Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh Pirates Preview, Friday 7/8, 6:05 CT: Back To The Future

by Al Yellon on Jul 8, 2011 4:00 PM CDT in Chicago Cubs Game Threads

Tony Campana of the Chicago Cubs is congratulated after scoring the go ahead run against the Washington Nationals during the ninth inning at Nationals Park on July 7, 2011 in Washington, DC. The Cubs defeated the Nationals 10-9. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

This is a switch.

The last time the Cubs and Pirates began a series, this late into the season, when the Pirates had a better record than the Cubs was on Sept. 20, 2002. After the games of Sept. 19, 2002, the Pirates led the Cubs by three games. (In 2006, the Cubs and Pirates began a series on Sept. 4 with the Cubs 2.5 games ahead of the Bucs following games of Sept. 3. The Pirates won three of four to dump the Cubs into last place to stay that year.)

However, a situation matching today's -- where the Cubs are well under .500 and the Pirates come in with a winning record and in playoff contention, this late into the season -- last happened on Sept. 28, 1992, the last time the Pirates qualified for the postseason. The Pirates had clinched the old NL East the previous day, but beat the Cubs anyway on Sept. 28, 10-3. Behind a pitcher who's still active -- Tim Wakefield.

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose -- Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr

Cubs lineup:

RF Fukudome, SS Castro, 3B Ramirez, 1B Pena, C Soto, CF Byrd, LF Soriano, 2B Barney, P Lopez

Pirates lineup:

Presley LF, d'Arnaud SS, Jones RF, McCutchen CF, Walker 2B, Overbay 1B, Harrison 3B, McKenry C, McDonald P

Seriously, I've never heard of half these guys. Oh, yes: Josh Harrison was the throw-in in the Gorzelanny/Grabow deal in 2009.

Today's Starting Pitchers


Rodrigo Lopez Cubs	vs.	James McDonald Pirates

1-2	W-L	5-4
3.91	ERA	4.40
13	SO	74
7	BB	47
3	HR	12
vs. Pit	--	vs. Cubs

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2011 - Rodrigo Lopez	1-2	12	3	0	0	0	0	25.1	29	14	11	3	7	13	3.91	1.42

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2011 - James McDonald	5-4	16	17	0	0	0	0	92.0	99	48	45	12	47	74	4.40	1.59

Please try to ignore the start that Rodrigo Lopez made against the White Sox last Sunday, because there is no possible way he could repeat that. He's just not that good. On the other hand, his only career start against Pittsburgh -- on April 9, 2010 while he was with the Diamondbacks -- was almost as good as last Sunday's. In short, who knows? A lot of those guys aren't even on the Pirates any more; Lyle Overbay has the most career AB against Lopez (four) with the most hits (three).

James McDonald's only career start vs. the Cubs was on September 1, 2010 at Wrigley Field. He gave up three runs in five innings and the Cubs won. So maybe this isn't as much of a mismatch as you might think.

Today's game is on CSN Chicago and ROOT Sports Pittsburgh. Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

SB Nation game preview

Please visit our SB Nation Pirates site Bucs Dugout.

Today's first pitch thread will be up at 6 pm CDT and the overflow threads will post at 7 pm, 8 pm and 8:45 pm CDT. If you need more overflows due to extra innings or rain delays, post them in the fanshot section.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

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Comments

I'm hoping the Pirates win the NL Central

Baseball is back!!

by cowsarecool220 on Jul 8, 2011 4:02 PM CDT reply actions

definately

if it’s not the Cubs (there’s always hope!)

"I've got a mind full of whiskey and bad ideas" - Scott Holt

by Ihatethecards on Jul 8, 2011 4:11 PM CDT up reply actions

Yeah

I hate the other 3, and the Cubs and Astros aren’t winning it. I’m considering buying a McCutchen shirt.

never forget...
1.7%
anything is possible...

by wrigleyrocker12 on Jul 8, 2011 4:53 PM CDT up reply actions

Me too.

Keep that Q Train rollin' in '11. Let's win it for Ronnie.

by mikegncb34 on Jul 8, 2011 4:58 PM CDT up reply actions

GoRoLo.

GM's are in charge of Managers, not the other way around.

by shoemile on Jul 8, 2011 4:03 PM CDT reply actions

Dear Cubs please try not to suck today

I said try

Last December when I was with New Orleans, our fat punk kicker, Garrett Hartley, missed a game-winner and we lost for the second week in a row – that was one of the times you want to grab a guy and tell him to [bug ] off," Fujita said. "But Hartley was young, and I didn’t want to mess him up for good, so I just bit my lip and said, ‘Hey, man, don’t worry about it — it was a team loss,’ which of course was a total lie."

by Fat Punk Kicker on Jul 8, 2011 4:12 PM CDT reply actions

And if you do suck,

score 9 unanswered runs again. That didn’t suck.

+1 on the Pirates. Would like to see them beat the Cards, Brewers and Reds if we can’t.

We'll miss you Big Boy. #10 for Hall of Fame.

by mrcubsfan on Jul 8, 2011 4:18 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

You know what'd be nice?

An Andrew McCutchen in Chicago. I hope Jackson is even better, but I don’t think you’re going to find too many young CFs better than McCutchen. I think he might be the next Beltran in the sense that he’ll be a slept on star by the public. I love every single aspect about that guy’s game…

by SenorGato on Jul 8, 2011 4:35 PM CDT reply actions

The world may explode. This is two agreements in a row.

Here’s hoping the Bucs need to dump salary and trade him away to the Cubs in a year or two.

"Stuff like this is why they should shut off the internet."

by Orval Overall on Dec 17, 2010 1:19 PM CST

by fsuapollo on Jul 8, 2011 4:43 PM CDT up reply actions

His defense isn’t all that great. Is he such a terrific hitter?

"Prince Fielder is too fat even for the Oakland A’s" - Billy Beane

by ol Pete on Jul 8, 2011 4:44 PM CDT up reply actions

He is already worth 4.9 WAR

by Mitchener on Jul 8, 2011 5:53 PM CDT up reply actions

I should add he doesn’t have a very good throwing arm, but then that’s actual baseball.

"Prince Fielder is too fat even for the Oakland A’s" - Billy Beane

by ol Pete on Jul 8, 2011 6:02 PM CDT up reply actions

Ok i get it. Your not a saber guy.

by Mitchener on Jul 8, 2011 6:04 PM CDT up reply actions

I’ve never been very religious.

"Prince Fielder is too fat even for the Oakland A’s" - Billy Beane

by ol Pete on Jul 8, 2011 6:05 PM CDT up reply actions

Oddly enough,

I have to side with ol Pete on this one. Stats are not the be-all and end-all in baseball.

Minor League Contributing Writer, Athletics Nation.

State high point count: 3/50

If you are grouchy, irritable, or just plain mean, there will be a $10 charge for putting up with you.

by Vermont Cubs Fan on Jul 8, 2011 6:12 PM CDT up reply actions

I agree but there are some stats worth more than others...WAR is a pretty...

…good indicator.

Guys, hitting is not about muscle. It's simple physics. Calculate the velocity, v, in relation to the trajectory, t, in which g, gravity, of course remains a constant.... It's not complicated. - George Costanza

by troutfishin on Jul 8, 2011 6:21 PM CDT up reply actions

It's the in stat.

by SenorGato on Jul 8, 2011 9:25 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

All around he's awesome.

The guy is having a great season.

by SenorGato on Jul 8, 2011 6:09 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

insanely off topic:

why do i feel as if Jeff Baker is old and has a journeyman feel to him?

by epsilon on Jul 8, 2011 4:41 PM CDT reply actions

30 and been with two teams?

But yeah – hits consistently better against LHP than RHP and lifted for back spasms. It’s like he’s the IF version of Cliff, only five years younger.

"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 Jul 8, 2011 4:51 PM CDT up reply actions

Players who aren't very good and only have a very limited positive role have that feeling.

--------------------------------
Just North of Wrigley Field

by jameslcrockett on Jul 8, 2011 5:02 PM CDT up reply actions

This where Bilbo would say...

“I wish I’d heard of half of the Cubs, half as much as I have.”

--------------------------------
Just North of Wrigley Field

by jameslcrockett on Jul 8, 2011 5:01 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Cubs Released Fernando Perez

"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)

by SackMan on Jul 8, 2011 5:07 PM CDT reply actions

Posted as fanshot

Join us for complete MLB coverage at SB Nation's Baseball Nation

by Al Yellon on Jul 8, 2011 5:15 PM CDT up reply actions

I can't believe that didnt work out

by TJ11 on Jul 8, 2011 5:37 PM CDT up reply actions

Any idea why Barney is batting 8th?

Punishment for letting that ball drop?

"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 Jul 8, 2011 5:09 PM CDT reply actions

Hasn't he hit eighth the past few days?

GM's are in charge of Managers, not the other way around.

by shoemile on Jul 8, 2011 5:12 PM CDT up reply actions

Maybe

I haven’t been paying too much attention – packing up and moving 1,600 miles does that for a guy :/

"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 Jul 8, 2011 5:28 PM CDT up reply actions

He is a much better hitter than Soriano, but Soriano makes too much money to hit 8th or sit like he belongs...

by TJ11 on Jul 8, 2011 5:31 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm surprised he's hitting 7th

Is there a more expensive 7th hitter in MLB history??

by Madison Cub Fan on Jul 8, 2011 5:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Nope

If he made less money he would not even be a starter…If he made a lot less he would have been released a year and a half ago…

by TJ11 on Jul 8, 2011 5:36 PM CDT up reply actions

I think that A-Rod has hit 7th before

When he was slumping

"Wait, are you saying I'm a sunshine-pumping, koolaid-drinking, Soriano-loving, rainbow-rising, unicorn-riding, double-clutching, Sweet Lou-backing, Hendry-supporting, hey hey whaddya saying, Cubs are going all the waying, glass is overflowing, Rothschild is all-knowing, Cubs fan? - ballhawk

by vonde6 on Jul 8, 2011 5:36 PM CDT up reply actions

True....the difference is here we are debating if he should be hitting 8th or not playing at all....ARod would bounce back...

by TJ11 on Jul 8, 2011 5:37 PM CDT up reply actions

So there is one player

I didn’t realize he hit that low, I don’t really follow AL East

by Madison Cub Fan on Jul 8, 2011 5:38 PM CDT up reply actions

Its Ok, it was temporary......manager was making a point.....Something Quade does not do....like sitting a loafer.....

Soriano should never bat higher and should be taken out for defense in the 4th inning…

by TJ11 on Jul 8, 2011 5:43 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm very anti -Q

You’d have to PAY me to go and see Q @ that coaches corner thing they keep plugging on the radio much less pay $50……….

but seriously what do you do with him even if you are a good manager? Keep him as a bench player? The Cubs can’t cut him.

by Madison Cub Fan on Jul 8, 2011 5:46 PM CDT up reply actions

He is a sunk cost...

So we do not have to play him…

He needs to be sat down and told…we are going to be looking at some young OF down the stretch and you and Fukudome are going to lose some playing time because of it.
We thought we would be straight with you.

If he bitches, just say, look this wouldnt be happening if this team was better and you are a big reason it isnt….

THIS WILL NEVER HAPPEN…Quade and Hendry are too weak to do this.

by TJ11 on Jul 8, 2011 6:04 PM CDT up reply actions