The weather has cleared out; humidity has dropped and the sun is shining brightly today, and temperatures are supposed to be in the upper 70's and lower 80's the rest of the homestand. So no more complaints about it being "too hot", please.
Kerry Wood is back, seemingly no worse for the time off, and will probably be back to closing by the weekend. And, Wood's benefit celebrity bowling tournament takes place tonight at the 10pin lounge at 330 N. State St. This year's tournament and auction is to raise money for the Organic School Project.
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Bottom line on Brandon Backe: he hasn't beaten the Cubs in more than three years. Let's keep it that way. The Cubs beat him in Houston on July 20 on a day when the offense really got going. Mike Fontenot homered off Backe, so I'd expect him to get a start today.
Jason Marquis, a good hitter, is 2-for-5 against Backe. He threw well in his last start, giving up three runs in six innings, but the Cubs scored zero runs for him. He has thrown at least six innings in eight of his last nine starts. Yes, he gives up runs, but generally, does keep the Cubs in the game. He has one no-decision vs. Houston this year, on April 5 at Wrigley Field, in a game the Cubs came from behind to win. Carlos Lee hits him well (.345), but Lee hits every Cub pitcher well. The guy who kills Marquis is Lance Berkman (19-for-39, .487/.600/.744, 5 doubles, a triple, a HR, 11 walks, 13 RBI). If Marquis can hold Berkman down, he's got a pretty good shot at winning this one.
Today's game is on WGN and FSN Houston. Also see the MLB.com Mediacenter.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Once again, a reminder that you can find the overflow comment threads, including the first pitch thread, on the right sidebar of both the front page and any interior page in the box headed "RECENT STORIES IN GAME THREADS". Today's first pitch thread, as yesterday, posts at 1:15 pm CT, and the overflow comment threads will post at 2:15, 3:15 and 3:45 pm CT.
Discuss amongst yourselves.