What a difference a year makes: when the Giants last visited Wrigley Field, their team record (38-51 when the 2007 series began) was almost identical to what it is today (39-53). But this year's Giants, seven games out of first place in the horrid NL West, still think they're in playoff contention. (Don't tell 'em, they're not.) If the Giants were in the NL Central, they'd be dead last, sixteen games out of first place.
Jayson Stark's ESPN.com "Rumblings" column has some fun ideas on how to make the All-Star Game and surrounding events more interesting.
Will Carlos Zambrano start the All-Star Game? It's a definite possibility.
And, today the Wall Street Journal analyzes why the National League is being dominated by the American League.
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Today's pitching matchup is a rematch of the one in San Francisco on July 1. Marquis pitched pretty well that day (seven innings, four hits, two runs). Cain pitched better, shutting out the Cubs for eight innings. They managed to score off the Giants' closer, Brian Wilson, and get the tying run to scoring position, but the game ended on a Ryan Theriot strikeout.
It'll be a little hotter (88 degrees forecast) than it was in San Francisco that night (60 degrees) and the wind will be blowing out again. I'm guessing the score will be higher than 2-1.
Please, Jason. Have one of your GOOD games today.
This afternoon you can find the game on EI, since it's on cable in both Chicago and the Bay Area. Also see the MLB.com Mediacenter.
MLB.com Gameday (2007 version)
MLB.com Gameday (2008 version)
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Today's first pitch thread will post at 1:15 pm CT and the overflow comment thread will post at 2:30 pm and 3:30 pm CT.
Discuss amongst yourselves.