Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals Preview, Saturday 8/20, 3:10 CT: Moving On

by Al Yellon on Aug 20, 2011 1:00 PM CDT in Chicago Cubs Game Threads

This is the Cubs' final appearance on Fox's Saturday regional games for this season, so the Fox Wizard graces BCB for the last time until 2012. After the jump, the breakdown of who sees the Cubs/Cardinals game and who will see the other two scheduled games: Brewers/Mets or Reds/Pirates (and I'm guessing that Reds/Pirates choice looked a lot better to Fox execs a month ago than it does today).

Other than that, this is the real first day of the post-Jim Hendry era in Cubs history. I suppose the next few weeks will be filled with new GM speculation, but in reality, considering how close to the vest the Hendry firing was held, we might not know much until the day the name of the new GM is revealed.

Until then, I'd like to see this team win some games. Not to mention that by defeating the Cardinals today and tomorrow, the Cubs could push St. Louis farther out of postseason contention.

Cubs lineup:

Castro SS, Barney 2B, Ramirez 3B, Peña 1B, Byrd CF, Soriano LF, Colvin RF, Soto C, Garza P

Cardinals lineup:

Jay cf, Craig lf, Pujols 1b, Berkman rf, Freese 3b, Schumaker 2b, Molina c, Theriot ss, Jackson p

Today's Starting Pitchers


Matt Garza Cubs	vs.	Edwin Jackson Cardinals

5-9	W-L	9-8
3.80	ERA	4.04
143	SO	113
49	BB	47
11	HR	14
vs. StL	--	vs. Cubs

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2011 - Matt Garza	5-9	23	23	1	0	0	0	139.2	133	70	59	11	49	143	3.80	1.30

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2011 - Edwin Jackson	2-1	4	4	0	0	0	0	25.1	35	16	13	6	8	16	4.62	1.70

Note: Jackson's stats above are with the Cardinals only. Stats in pitcher box are his combined stats with the Cardinals and White Sox.

Matt Garza has started twice against the Cardinals this year. One was good, the other not so much. Garza has been very good at Wrigley Field this year (2.84 ERA, 1.147 WHIP) and, oddly enough, the Cardinal who hits him best is Corey Patterson (6-for-13, .462, one HR).

Edwin Jackson has started twice against the Cubs this year, once as a member of the White Sox and the above-mentioned game in St. Louis when Matt Garza didn't pitch very well. In Jackson's game in Wrigley Field on July 1, he gave up four runs in six innings, including a home run to Aramis Ramirez, but the White Sox won anyway. In addition to A-Ram, Marlon Byrd and Alfonso Soriano have also homered off Jackson.

Today's game is on Fox. The game will have Josh Lewin and Mark Grace as announcers, so hit the mute button. It's going to be seen pretty much everywhere from Chicago west to the West Coast, except for Minnesota and Wisconsin and much of the Dakotas. Here's the coverage map and 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 Cardinals site Viva el Birdos.

Today's first pitch thread will be up at 3:10 p.m. CDT and the overflow threads will post at 4:15 pm, 5:15 pm and 6 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

Looks like the rain has moved out

and it could be a nice day after all.

Here’s to seeing the 2nd win of the series against the RedBirds.

Hope the kids shine again today.

Just win the next game...!

by blackhawk24 on Aug 20, 2011 1:04 PM CDT reply actions

Hey look! Colvin is playing!

Soto and Soriano should be switched in the order…..

by TJ11 on Aug 20, 2011 1:05 PM CDT reply actions

I'm absolutely shocked.

I was sure that both him and Barney would be sitting today after their great games yesterday.

by TheGrinch13 on Aug 20, 2011 1:10 PM CDT up reply actions

Blakey frowns

I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.

by timh815 on Aug 20, 2011 1:10 PM CDT up reply actions

Well, Quade's buddy isn't the GM anymore

so maybe he might actually start playing Colvin.

by TheGrinch13 on Aug 20, 2011 1:18 PM CDT up reply actions

his buddy was the one wanting Colvin to be played...

by TJ11 on Aug 20, 2011 1:59 PM CDT up reply actions

Is the Fanboy Owner at the game today?

"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.

by zevkalman on Aug 20, 2011 1:06 PM CDT reply actions

I'm all in.

For beating the cardinals today, tomorrow and any time we play them. Nothing I would like to see more this afternoon is Tony Boy lose his cool about anything.

Kind of lost in the shuffle yesterday was the record crowd. That kind of surprised me. Anyone have any thoughts why a Friday crowd was so big and was over sold?

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

by mrcubsfan on Aug 20, 2011 1:09 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

Regardless of the situation

It’s always nice to beat the Cards.

"I'm not much of a chemistry guy. Chemistry to me is a pinch-hit double with the bases loaded." -Jim Frey

by lapetino on Aug 20, 2011 1:11 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

And zevkalman has my sig!

"I'm not much of a chemistry guy. Chemistry to me is a pinch-hit double with the bases loaded." -Jim Frey

by lapetino on Aug 20, 2011 1:12 PM CDT reply actions

Why does Byrd keep batting 5th?

He’s hitting about .200 with runners in scoring position and has hardly any power. Besides that, he SWINGS AT EVERYTHING! Can someone please tell him that his at bats aren’t batting practice and that he can take a pitch every once in a while? It is ridiculous to watch him have 0-2 counts every time he bats. Nothing personal against him because he seems to have a good attitude and tries hard, but he has no business batting fifth, let alone 3rd (which he did for most of Quade’s tenure for no apparent reason). Our coaching staff is outstanding!

Too bad he wasn’t traded already….we could actually be watching Brett Jackson in CF every day. Ricketts said that we’re going to focus on player development now, so that doesn’t go well with our current manager’s mindset of playing veterans all the time. I can’t wait to watch him come up in September (if he’s called up at all) and sit next to Colvin on the bench.

by TheGrinch13 on Aug 20, 2011 1:15 PM CDT reply actions

ANSWER:

QIAFI

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Aug 20, 2011 1:17 PM CDT up reply actions

Just curious.....

…. if you never repeat yourself, why do you keep posting this?

Help bring Boys of Spring The Movie to life!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1742828131/boys-of-spring-the-movie

by BeerCub on Aug 20, 2011 1:29 PM CDT up reply actions

He has told you that before, he he.

"Chicago baseball fans, who are composites of scar tissue and mortifying memories..." - George F. Will
Avatar provided courtesy of AndrewJStone.

by eswan9 on Aug 20, 2011 1:32 PM CDT up reply actions

ISWYDT

Help bring Boys of Spring The Movie to life!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1742828131/boys-of-spring-the-movie

by BeerCub on Aug 20, 2011 1:42 PM CDT up reply actions

He he.

"Chicago baseball fans, who are composites of scar tissue and mortifying memories..." - George F. Will
Avatar provided courtesy of AndrewJStone.

by eswan9 on Aug 20, 2011 1:54 PM CDT up reply actions

The question is who bats fifth?

sori the strikeout machine? Soto the strikeout machine? Or Colvin the strikeout machine?!!!!

by Notsnud on Aug 20, 2011 1:22 PM CDT up reply actions

Cubs offense

Machine-like precision.

I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.

by timh815 on Aug 20, 2011 1:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Holy crap

It looks like I get the cubs game in Portland. Today you are awesome fox!!! DONT LET I T GO TO YOUR HEAD! As I will hate you next Saturday.

by Notsnud on Aug 20, 2011 1:20 PM CDT reply actions

Nice! Cubs and Cards are on in SoCal!

"I always tell the truth -- Even when I lie" -- Tony Montana

by calicubfan on Aug 20, 2011 1:21 PM CDT reply actions

And no sawks, or yanks anywhere to be seen!!!

by Notsnud on Aug 20, 2011 1:23 PM CDT up reply actions

Cubs game tomorrow

Hey guys,the wife and I will be at the game tomorrow night and also attending the block party all day. Anyone else plan on being there and wanna meet up let me know.

by bleedinblue76 on Aug 20, 2011 1:26 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

No word from Ryno??

Surprised someone hasn’t gotten a reax from Sandberg yet…He’s still by first choice as next manager, not a retread. Good chance to right the wrong that Hendry did by hiring Quade. If he doesn’t get the job now he may never. Do it Ricketts!!

by QuincyCub on Aug 20, 2011 1:30 PM CDT reply actions

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

My first choice is the first choice of the new GM. If the GM prefers Ryno to all else, then Heck, yeah. But for a GM to ‘opt’ for the ‘local guy’ would keep us middling for a decade. #thoughtweweretiredofthat

I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.

by timh815 on Aug 20, 2011 1:53 PM CDT up reply actions

Knowing Ryno, he'll take the high road if asked about Hendry...

Then again, he always did have class.

by jeffmills1972 on Aug 20, 2011 4:24 PM CDT up reply actions

Go Cubs - we can win this series!

If the Cubs still have a chance, no matter how small, it’s still Go Cubs, damn the math and pass the KoolAid.

by eths on Aug 20, 2011 1:49 PM CDT via mobile reply actions

Ugh..I hate Fox

It seems like everytime the Cubs play on Fox, I am stuck with some other game…who wants to see the Brewers vs. the Mets???

by bazfan1234 on Aug 20, 2011 2:00 PM CDT reply actions

I get pirates v. reds

by zach katz on Aug 20, 2011 2:04 PM CDT up reply actions

Brewers fans and Mets fans. Is that a trick question?

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

by ol Pete on Aug 20, 2011 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions

Especially in NC?

I can name all of one Mets fan and he is from NY. The majority of NC pulls for either the Braves or Cubs.

by bazfan1234 on Aug 20, 2011 2:07 PM CDT up reply actions

In SC they're pulling for college football...

Even in April, the local talk-radio shows here have callers talking about the upcoming college football season. It used to be Brave country here, but not so much anymore. I’d say that NCAA Football is #1 followed by NASCAR followed by the Braves.

by jeffmills1972 on Aug 20, 2011 4:25 PM CDT up reply actions

Correction: the NFL would be #2 behind NASCAR.

by jeffmills1972 on Aug 20, 2011 4:26 PM CDT up reply actions

Brewers fans, yeah

I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.

by timh815 on Aug 20, 2011 2:12 PM CDT up reply actions

Hope this is a good one.

Gave my ticket to my daughter so she and her daddy can spend some time together before she heads up to school. Summer went too fast. We are going to miss her so much.

WWFCD?

by katie casey on Aug 20, 2011 2:14 PM CDT reply actions

Rosario (2012/6th Round)

dispenses a HR off of Paz.

I'm a Cubs fan. The Jaded Bitterness comes as a Standard Feature.

by timh815 on Aug 20, 2011 2:25 PM CDT reply actions

For the love of God

will SOMEONE please explain to the morons who decide what national game we get to see here in lower Michigan that there are MILLIONS more Cubs fans living here than Brewers or Mets fans. I mean, H-E double hockey sticks! This is ridiculous.

Michigan’s upper peninsula? Sure. I agree the Brewers make sense there. But come ON you doofuses. NOT in the lower peninsula.

There are 108 beads in a Catholic rosary and there are 108 stitches in a baseball. Who says baseball isn't a religion?

by Zeke on Aug 20, 2011 2:50 PM CDT reply actions