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Open Thread: Cubs vs. Mets, Wednesday 5/16, 6:10 CT

By Al Yellon

Hey! Sosa's facing the Cubs tonight!

No, not this Sosa. That will have to wait another month, till the Cubs take their trip to Arlington, Texas.

Meanwhile, Derrek Lee will likely not play tonight, nor tomorrow, since he has not yet returned to New York. And why is this?
Derrek Lee, bothered by neck spasms, did not rejoin the Cubs on Tuesday, instead staying in Chicago because doctors did not think the first baseman was ready to travel.
To which I say, "Well, DUH!" Couldn't they have arranged a MRI for him in New York? In any case, perhaps it's best that he just rest till Friday's game against the White Sox.
Today's Starting Pitchers
Rich Hill
R. Hill
Cubs		 vs. Jorge Sosa
J. Sosa
Mets
4-2 W-L 2-0
2.51 ERA 2.77
40 SO 7
15 BB 5
5 HR 2
vs. NY -- vs. Cubs
Jorge Sosa is an enigma. He had a really bad year for a really bad Tampa Bay team in 2003 -- 5-12, 4.62 ERA, 1.53 WHIP. Then he was even worse in 2004 -- 4-7, 5.53 ERA, 1.55 WHIP. Both of those years, incidentally, his manager was Lou Piniella, so maybe Lou can give his hitters some pointers. Sosa was then dealt to the Braves, a 2005 playoff team -- and he was great, going 13-3, 2.55 in 44 appearances, 20 starts. Then he started 2006 by sucking for the Braves, was traded to the Cardinals, and sucked there, too.

So far this year he's been pretty good for the Mets, although it's only two starts.

Rich Hill had the worst start of his year so far in his last outing, going five innings and giving up five runs, including two homers. Still, he struck out seven, and walked only three, so by and large, I don't think his overall game has suffered. He had the worst start of his career against the Mets on August 5, 2005, giving up seven runs in a little more than an inning. But that was the "old" Rich Hill.

Right? You buying this?

The weather forecast still doesn't look great for the NYC area tonight, and now there's a severe thunderstorm watch until 8 pm EDT. So expect possible delays, if not a total washout.

Mike Fontenot is wearing Mark Grace's old number 17. Or, as I thought as I saw him, "He's wearing Felix Pie's old #17." That makes Fontenot the sixth player to wear #17 since Grace's departure. The other five: Bobby Hill, Calvin Murray, Adam Greenberg (yup, Adam Greenberg), John Mabry and Pie.

Tonight's game is on CSN and SNY, Extra Innings, and the Mediacenter.

MLB.com Gameday (2007 version)

MLB.com Gameday (2006 version)

Discuss amongst yourselves.

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