Open Thread: Cubs vs. Pirates, Sunday 9/9, 12:35 CT

I'm not sure I would want to wish any more adversity on the Cardinals, even a long road game. They seem to thrive on it. Hell, if Wainwright goes down they'll probably go on a ten game winning streak.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/magazine/chi-mxa0909magcubsfansep09,0,5984795.story

Dan

And Bear Down!

Well one more thing, I really like the idea of Kevin Hart starting this week and Z getting pushed back.

Soriano, LF
Theriot, SS
Lee, 1B
Ramirez, 3B
Murton, RF
Jones, CF
DeRosa, 2B
Kendall, C
Rain Delay, P

Pie-rats

Morgan, CF
McClouth, LF
F. Sanchez, 2B
LaRoche, 1B
Bautista, 3B
Pearce, RF
Paulino, C
Wilson, SS
Morris, P

And just think.....SOME OF US will be sporting BCB t-shirts !!!!

GO CUBS !!!!!

thaks for the memories and that nice big contract!  :-)

Am I correct?

But it is Morris on the mound...

giving up two prospects for a one month rental we didn't really need..

oh and A-rod with ANOTHER home run!

i don't understand that signing. nice work cubbies.

thanks trachsel.

It's all academic now.  :-(

1. Rapada for Monroe. Makes no sense whatsoever, especailly with how bad Monroe has been lately
2. Traschel for Cherry AND Moore. I think both of those were great prospects. Moore could have potentially placed in the outfield and Cherry had a good arm. Moore even hit a grand slam last night!!

Can you say relegated to long relief? I dont want to see him start again.

i'm not sure i've ever been more down on this team's chances.

MattyMo doing what he did with the Cards.

Starting with that arrogant little gnat Sanchez trying to turn that triple into an inside the park homer.  It just feels like we can come back all the way.  LET"S GO CUBS!!

He has been saying that for 2 weeks

Grade A Lovable Loser, I guess. We'd had better luck with Marshall still in there.

The Cards should have leapfrogged us already three weeks ago, but they haven't. The Brewers reek and their meltdown just slowed down.

Heck, in the battle for divisional attrition, anything can happen. No one in the division is giving up .. so neither should we. This thing probably won't be decided for another week or so, and if the 8 cylinder divisional blocks fire on 6 for the next week like they have been the past week or so, it will probably be longer.

Everyone is choking today because they're trying to do too much all at once. It's obvious. They can and have done better. The AB's and plate discipline have been better. Unbelievable.

Yipes.

i still don't understand the trachsel thing, but having that guy on the team has completely sucked the life out of me.

i just hope milwaukee wins the division, cause i can't stand the cardinals.

- "Good afternoon. This was a heck of a ballgame. Well fought. Luck wasn't on our side, though."

Q. What? You lost by 5 runs and have only won a game in each of the last series.

- "Hey, there are only a few weeks to go. It's not time to panic. The bullpen is doing its job and the hitters did theirs too. We'll get them the next time."

Q. The Cubs have a losing record against Pittsburgh, one of the worst teams in the National League. What makes you think that the story will be different the next time you face them?

- "Well, because we got good pitchers. In a close game, Ohman and Wood can stop them. We expect a lot fron Kerry Wood this year. Having him back is like getting a star reliever in a midseason trade without having to give up any prospect. Nice move by Jim, not moving, you know? It's always great to depend on Kerry."

Q. Were you awake during the game? Did you notice how the lowly Pirates trashed Wood today?

- "It's only one game. We still have the rest of the season left. And I still think this team has a rally in it. I really do."

Q. What are your plans for the upcoming games?

- "Well, we have Hill and Trachsel in their usual spots. They really eat up some innings up there. (Chuckles) Marquis never chokes in September. And I expect the ace, Carlos, to win the rest of his games. And Ohman and Wood will set it up for Mármol, Howry and Dempster. By the way, Ryan promised Larry he won't blow any more saves. Nor that he'll have many chances, though. I mean, the team will be leading by many runs in the ninth inning. I'll use Dempster in every open game because he needs the work to get ready for those few save opportunities, you know. All I need is for Ryan to be ready for a ninth ninth of the game."

Q. What about the lineup?

- "What about it? We're scoring a ton of runs. Five. That's a lot these days. I hadn't seen that since I was the manager in... that place, what's its name?"

Q. So you're not concerned about Soriano striiking out and all the double plays the teeam is hitting into?

- "No! Why would I? have you seen how many home runs has Soriano hit lately? Those solo shots are beautiful, man! And sometimes there are men on base when he hits them. What a talent this kid has! A natural born hitter. He hardly needs to run the count. That's what we need, dude! I'll make sure the pitcher hits before Sori the rest of the way. We don't want to clog the bases for Sori. And he likes to be the lead off man. I can't possibly disappoint him.

OK, thank you. See you tomorrow at Wrigley."

The manager walked away and put a toothpick between his lips. He found Jim Hendry in the hallway and was heard telling him:

"Thank you Jimbo. This white dude disguise is the only way I can get back to manage in Chicago. You can untie Lou in a week because I have to make it to Bristol and do the TV show on ESPN."