Cubs vs. Mets Preview, Sunday 9/5, 1:20 CT: Going For The Sweep
by Al Yellon on Sep 5, 2010 11:00 AM CDT
in Game Threads
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PrintThe Cubs have swept three three-game series this year, all on the road (in April vs. the Brewers, in July vs. the Diamondbacks, and two weeks ago vs. the Nationals).
Only two other times have they gone into the last game of a three-game set at home with a chance to sweep it (in April vs. the Brewers, and in July vs. the Cardinals). They've played extremely well under Mike Quade; the season series vs. the Mets is now tied 3-3 and it would be nice to win it. The Cubs did sweep an abbreviated two-game series against the Rockies at home in May.
One other note about sweeps: the Cubs have not swept the Mets since 2004. 'Bout time that changed.
Also, the Cubs will be going for their fourth win in a row. Four games is the longest winning streak the Cubs have had this year, and it has happened only twice -- from April 23-26 and again from May 16-19. In the divisional play era, only four Cubs teams (1980, 1981, 1996, 2006) have had their longest winning streak be four games. It would be nice if this team did not join that group.
One quick starting rotation note: Carlos Silva and Casey Coleman will be switched in the rotation for the Houston series. Silva will go tomorrow, Coleman on Tuesday, then Randy Wells on Wednesday.
Today's lineup via tweet from Carrie:
#Cubs lineup Sun vs #Mets: 2B Baker, SS Castro, CF Byrd, 3B Ramy, 1B Nady, LF Soriano, RF Colvin, C Soto, P Dempster
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Jon Niese started against the Cubs on April 19 in New York; he threw five decent innings, and left with the score tied 1-1. The Cubs bullpen blew the game. No current Cub has more than five at-bats against Niese.
That series in New York earlier this year was a four-game set; the only Cubs starter who did not face the Mets was Ryan Dempster. His last start vs. NY was on August 29, 2009 at Wrigley Field. As a result, with all the injuries to the Mets and the rookies they are playing, Dempster has only faced six current Mets. Carlos Beltran is 5-for-7 with a HR, the only HR any current Met has hit off him. Dempster once again goes for his 100th career victory (and 50th as a Cub).
Today's game is on WGN and SNY. Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Please visit our SB Nation Mets site Amazin' Avenue.
Today's first pitch thread will be up at noon CDT, and the overflows will post at 1 pm, 2 pm and 2:45 pm CDT.
Discuss amongst yourselves.
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Third!
Why isn’t this on the front page?
"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
Al goofed up
as far as I can tell. It happens.
I’ve moved it to the front page.
by Josh Timmers on Sep 5, 2010 11:58 AM CDT up reply actions
Josh for the save
Chronologically inept since 2060
"I could be writing this crap!" -- Crow T. Robot
Me: Q: I can run but not walk. Wherever I go, thought follows close behind. What am I?
Wrigster A: Theriot
A pad save ....and a beauty!
Starlin Castro singles on a pop up to catcher Jason LaRue.
Ryan Theriot scores. Two out -Gameday 7/23/10
by Sandberg's evil twin on Sep 5, 2010 12:39 PM CDT up reply actions
Hooray for multiple admins!
"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
This is when we take over!
Watch out Al! Attica!
Starlin Castro singles on a pop up to catcher Jason LaRue.
Ryan Theriot scores. Two out -Gameday 7/23/10
by Sandberg's evil twin on Sep 5, 2010 12:15 PM CDT up reply actions
Thanks for the link, Clutch!
I didn't believe it last August, but it turns out that love survives.
Mount Washington conquered July 5, 2010! State high point count: 3/50
by Vermont Cubs Fan on Sep 5, 2010 12:03 PM CDT reply actions
Robert Whitenack
is pitching a gem for Daytona in their final game of the season right now.
I’ve probably cursed him now.
1980, 1981, 1996, 2006
Haven’t we already joined that group in futility?
"You win because of the quarterback. We have to get that position stabilized. We're fixated on that." -- Jerry Angelo (12.30.2008)
Jerry Angelo trades for Jay Cutler! (4.2.2009)
I do love a challenge
And comment boxes don’t allow nice graphs, so my post about when and where the Cubs have played the Mets over the last 7 seasons didn’t look good enough to actually publish. /pout
Records after 136 games
1980: 54-82 (.397)
1981: strike-shortened season, final record: 38-65 (.368)
1996: 68-68 (.500)
2006: 55-81 (.404)
2010: 59-77 (.433)
One of these things is not like the others. However, overall, it’s looking better than any of your examples besides ’96.
Final records:
1980: 64-98 (.395)
1981: 38-65 (.368)
1996: 76-86 (.469)
2006: 66-96 (.407)
We’re actually on pace to do better than all but the ‘96 squad, as well. We’re definitely in “season-salvage” mode, though.
"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
Cubs' 11 worst years by W-L record
1 (tie): 1962, 1966: 59-103 (.364)
3: 1981: 38-65 (.368)
4: 1901: 53-86 (.381)
5 (tie): 1956, 1960: 60-94 (.390)
7: 1980: 64-98 (.395)
8: 1949: 61-93 (.396)
9: 2000: 65-97 (.401)
10 (tie): 1951, 1957: 62-92 (.403)
That .433 puts the 2010 squad on pace to be only 23rd or 24th worst in history. They aren’t even good at being bad!
"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
Looks like they dusted off the muffin man today.
Let’s hope some playing time helps Colvin. I know he needs to be evaluated and Sori can’t be sat everyday…just hard to sit Dome at this point. Thankfully Soto sounds healthy.
Starlin Castro singles on a pop up to catcher Jason LaRue.
Ryan Theriot scores. Two out -Gameday 7/23/10
by Sandberg's evil twin on Sep 5, 2010 12:19 PM CDT reply actions
Normally, I'd say that Byrd could be spelled once a week, too
But we’re in the middle of a stretch of 3-game series, with built-in off-days on Thursdays, so Marlon can rest then. Yeah, it’s gonna be tough to justify Colvin starting more than once a week as long as Dome stays hot.
"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
unless the 1B experiment gets a go
Chronologically inept since 2060
"I could be writing this crap!" -- Crow T. Robot
Me: Q: I can run but not walk. Wherever I go, thought follows close behind. What am I?
Wrigster A: Theriot
I hope we hear something about that today on the Lead Off man.
Course we have almost a month still so there’s not a rush, but if he’s judged unable to play there I’d like hearing it from the manager instead of it dodged. As much as I like watching the Cubs win, these games are meaningless and I’d like to see if he is an option there for next year.
Starlin Castro singles on a pop up to catcher Jason LaRue.
Ryan Theriot scores. Two out -Gameday 7/23/10
by Sandberg's evil twin on Sep 5, 2010 12:32 PM CDT up reply actions
they are never wrong!
Chronologically inept since 2060
"I could be writing this crap!" -- Crow T. Robot
Me: Q: I can run but not walk. Wherever I go, thought follows close behind. What am I?
Wrigster A: Theriot
That usually goes back to the showcase nonsense.
Course I’m assuming you are serious here which is probably a bad thing to do in general lol.
Starlin Castro singles on a pop up to catcher Jason LaRue.
Ryan Theriot scores. Two out -Gameday 7/23/10
by Sandberg's evil twin on Sep 5, 2010 12:35 PM CDT up reply actions
TJ is always serious
TJ does not stand for Totally Joking
Chronologically inept since 2060
"I could be writing this crap!" -- Crow T. Robot
Me: Q: I can run but not walk. Wherever I go, thought follows close behind. What am I?
Wrigster A: Theriot
I assumed it was The Joker.
Starlin Castro singles on a pop up to catcher Jason LaRue.
Ryan Theriot scores. Two out -Gameday 7/23/10
by Sandberg's evil twin on Sep 5, 2010 12:36 PM CDT up reply actions
Hey love the MST ref there...Crow rulez.
Starlin Castro singles on a pop up to catcher Jason LaRue.
Ryan Theriot scores. Two out -Gameday 7/23/10
by Sandberg's evil twin on Sep 5, 2010 12:37 PM CDT up reply actions
thanks
if you ever get to Austin, there is a live version of it here
Chronologically inept since 2060
"I could be writing this crap!" -- Crow T. Robot
Me: Q: I can run but not walk. Wherever I go, thought follows close behind. What am I?
Wrigster A: Theriot
There was a show on PBS the other night during the inevitable
pledge week where they had like 7 people laughing at a bad movie in silhouette form. I just kept thinking …cute but the writing is nowhere near as good as MST. Thanks for the link, I’ll check it out.
Starlin Castro singles on a pop up to catcher Jason LaRue.
Ryan Theriot scores. Two out -Gameday 7/23/10
by Sandberg's evil twin on Sep 5, 2010 12:43 PM CDT up reply actions
these three for MPT are hilarious, each one is a professor at UT as well
Chronologically inept since 2060
"I could be writing this crap!" -- Crow T. Robot
Me: Q: I can run but not walk. Wherever I go, thought follows close behind. What am I?
Wrigster A: Theriot
and from MST3k
one of my all time favs
they’re doing ti clown style
Chronologically inept since 2060
"I could be writing this crap!" -- Crow T. Robot
Me: Q: I can run but not walk. Wherever I go, thought follows close behind. What am I?
Wrigster A: Theriot
i laugh everytime
Chronologically inept since 2060
"I could be writing this crap!" -- Crow T. Robot
Me: Q: I can run but not walk. Wherever I go, thought follows close behind. What am I?
Wrigster A: Theriot
The showcasing is over, Hendry could not get rid of them......
Nady as well. Play the future.
But I guess Quade is trying to make his record as good as he can for himelf, so I can’t blame him.
But we can’t forget that these older guys helped get us to the position we are in. So why reward them with playing time?
It doesn't make much sense to me.
Perhaps Quade thinks he will do better against the pitcher for some reason, but I suspect it simply comes down to giving Baker a spot start to keep him “sharp”. I agree with you, seems no real good answer or reasoning here.
Starlin Castro singles on a pop up to catcher Jason LaRue.
Ryan Theriot scores. Two out -Gameday 7/23/10
by Sandberg's evil twin on Sep 5, 2010 12:51 PM CDT up reply actions
lets get a win
Chronologically inept since 2060
"I could be writing this crap!" -- Crow T. Robot
Me: Q: I can run but not walk. Wherever I go, thought follows close behind. What am I?
Wrigster A: Theriot
Hoping for a sweep
Currently sitting front row in the bleacher boxes and would like to officially end the summer on a high note
by mr_einstein on Sep 5, 2010 12:28 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Get anything during BP?
"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
So many jokes there...
New Orleans says you must be kidding.
Starlin Castro singles on a pop up to catcher Jason LaRue.
Ryan Theriot scores. Two out -Gameday 7/23/10
by Sandberg's evil twin on Sep 5, 2010 12:38 PM CDT up reply actions
"During" not "from" or "out of"
:P
"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
TWSS
Starlin Castro singles on a pop up to catcher Jason LaRue.
Ryan Theriot scores. Two out -Gameday 7/23/10
by Sandberg's evil twin on Sep 5, 2010 12:41 PM CDT up reply actions
Why why why
is Soto hitting 8th? My singular hope for the manager next year is that he will not bury one of the Cubs best hitters where he gets the fewest at bats.
Amen to that.
I was hoping they would let Soto out of Lou’s doghouse after he departed. Seems odd to leave him mired in the 8th spot especially now.
Starlin Castro singles on a pop up to catcher Jason LaRue.
Ryan Theriot scores. Two out -Gameday 7/23/10
by Sandberg's evil twin on Sep 5, 2010 12:48 PM CDT up reply actions
Hooray for Large (enough) Sample Sizes!
2010, Soto batting 8th: 135 PA, .252/.385/.423
2010, Soto batting anywhere else: 210 PA, .300/.400/ .540
Yup, he should be moved elsewhere – most of those numbers come from him batting 7th, though, which is really the only position with a large enough sample size to count. In the 7-hole, he’s at 159 PA, .316/.421/.594
The only other statistically significant spot is 5th: 34 PA, .286/.382/.536
Still, he seems to be doing better everywhere else but 8th.
"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
go Cubs!
and never go into a KFC and ask for a filet o fish
"They say you don’t win a pennant in April, but you can sure lose one." - Ryan Dempster
"Stuttgart Kickers soccer player Sascha Bender once suffered a facial injury after being punched. The assailant, teammate Christian Okpala, said Bender "permanently provoked me by farting all the time." "
All 6 of you
"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
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