The Cubs have begun a nice little mini-run: three wins in the last four games, all of them of the walkoff variety. Although those are really exciting, a blowout laugher of a win today wouldn't hurt.
Although there's no lefthander going today, Bruce Miles reported yesterday that until Aramis Ramirez returns, Jake Fox will play 3B against lefties:
"Let's hope it's hit to him right away, he catches it and throws it across the infield," Lou said. "That would be the best of all situations. Look, he's been working over there with Alan (coach Trammell). The young man swings the bat. We've got to find a place for him. We're going to put him at third base against left-hand pitching and see what he does."
Fox did fine there yesterday, handling three chances (including a bunt) without incident. He'll likely get some time at 3B next weekend at the Cell; the White Sox are apparently going to throw three lefties (Mark Buehrle, John Danks, Clayton Richard) against the Cubs. I also like Bruce's description of Mark DeRosa ("THE MOST POPULAR CUB EVER"). Obviously, that isn't true, although he's certainly gotten more attention than most former players who have returned in another uniform. DeRosa, for his part, said there was no "rift" between he and Lou when he was a Cub:
DeRosa said he had a good relationship with Piniella, who arrived in 2007 when DeRosa did.Gordon Wittenmyer's article also tells us why Angel Guzman never got up in the pen yesterday:
"There was never one moment in two years we didn't see eye-to-eye," he said. "His door was always open. He spoke directly to you -- sometimes very directly."
Angel Guzman was nursing tenderness on his right side after throwing 30 pitches Wednesday against the White Sox, but Piniella said it's not serious. He is expected to be available today.
Piniella was more anxious to use Carlos Marmol more frequently. Marmol hadn't pitched for four days before coming in Thursday and giving up two runs on three hits against the Sox in two-thirds of an inning.
And, at last, a beautiful day for baseball:
Today: Sunny, with a high near 86. West northwest wind between 5 and 15 mph.
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In five career starts vs. the Cubs, Tomo Ohka is 1-2 with a 7.30 ERA. Even the awful 2006 Cubs beat him and hit him hard (August 8, 2006 at Miller Park while Ohka was a Brewer; amusement value in the Cub lineup and pitching staff that day.) Derrek Lee, in particular, has hit him hard: 7-for-20 (.350) with three homers, and Lee's hot right now.
Ted Lilly last faced the Indians in 2006 while with Toronto. In his career, he is 4-3, 4.56 in nine starts vs. Cleveland. Among current members of the Tribe, Mark DeRosa and Jamey Carroll have homered off Ted. None of that matters, because he could beat them blindfolded.
You're getting a rare treat today if you live outside Chicago. Most Saturday 12:05 starts are on CSN, and those games aren't available nationally due to Bud's Idiotic Blackout Rules. Today's game is on WGN. For other games today see the MLB.com Mediacenter.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
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