There's no way I can overhype this series. It's big, and we all know it. So -- just go out there and win.
Note from the weekend: the four-game series vs. the Marlins drew 165,540, a new Wrigley Field record for a four-game set. (This mark could fall again when the Phillies come in for another four-game series at the end of August.)
Note from Carrie Muskat's Cubs mailbag, not usually known for breaking news:When was the last time the All-Star Game was played at Wrigley Field? -- Phil R., East Peoria, Ill.
The All-Star Game was played at Wrigley Field on July 10, 1990, and the American League beat the National League, 2-0. Julio Franco hit a two-run double in the seventh, and was named the MVP. I've heard some rumors -- and they're only rumors -- that Wrigley may be the host for the 2014 All-Star Game.
2014 will be the 100th anniversary of Wrigley Field's construction as Weeghman Park for the Federal League's Chicago Whales. Interesting.
And, a word to Brewer fans. I personally would love it if you would all take a cue from (most) Cardinal fans, who appreciate the rivalry and can discuss it without being nasty. I think it's great that we have a division rival that's a good team 90 miles from Chicago. Celebrate the rivalry, enjoy the games -- but don't hate. We don't want to become like Yankee or Red Sox fans, now, do we?
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As is the case for Rich Harden, the SBN sports data provider gives us only CC's Brewer stats. The pitcher box above has his full-season numbers. As I have mentioned elsewhere, in Sabathia's only career start vs. the Cubs, on June 21, 2006, they beat him up pretty good, scoring nine runs in 2.1 innings, one of the shortest outings of his career, and that was a bad Cub team. Both Alfonso Soriano (8-for-25, 3 HR) and Reed Johnson (8-for-21, three doubles, a HR) have hit him pretty good.
Ted Lilly has actually been better on the road (5-3, 3.84) than at home (5-3, 5.34) this year. He got beat up by the Brewers pretty good at Wrigley Field on April 2, but left that game trailing only 4-1 (relievers did the rest of the damage). The currently-hot Ryan Braun is 4-for-8 vs. Lilly, and Rickie Weeks has homered twice off him (including one in that April 2 game). Lilly's going to have to be on his game tonight.
Today's game is on cable in Chicago and Milwaukee, and at 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 be up at 7 pm CT and the overflow comment threads at 8:15 and 9:15 pm CT -- hopefully, tonight's game will be a quick one (unlike the Marlins series!) and a win!
Discuss amongst yourselves.