Tom Ricketts was at last night's game. He shook hands with Lou and Koyie Hill, and I'm glad he got to see a solidly played win. Let there be many more of these. (Maybe we should get Ricketts to come to every game, if he isn't planning on doing that already.)
So while we prepare for what (we hope) is a series win over the Astros, here are a few baseball notes to pore over this morning:
- If you think the Cubs are having a tough go at things, it can always be worse elswehere. Check out several other teams that have had losing years for a long time. And what Bill James has to say about why that happens.
- From USA Today: Paul White on major leaguers with college degrees -- some with majors you might not have guessed.
- Yet another Jeff-Samardzija-is-the-future article.
- Gee, what a surprise: Jake Peavy might get shut down for the year. NOW are you glad the Cubs didn't trade the farm for him? And, Carlos Torres will start Thursday's game at Wrigley for the White Sox.
- Some photos and a tour of Target Field, the Twins' new roofless home that will open next spring. It says here that the Twins are giving up a huge home-field advantage and will likely be playing in adverse weather conditions for at least April, and part of May.
- 37 years ago today, the Cubs' Milt Pappas threw a no-hitter, but came within one pitch of a perfect game. And he still can't stand the call plate umpire Bruce Froemming made that he felt robbed him of the perfecto.
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Felipe Paulino started the year in Houston's rotation and made three starts, all of which were decent. Then, for some reason, Cecil Cooper sent him to the bullpen. After three relief appearances -- one of which was a horrendous 0.2 inning, 4 ER outing against the Cubs on May 7, which included a HR by Alfonso Soriano -- he was back in the rotation. That turned out, um, badly -- seven starts, 7.59 ERA. Back in the pen he went; this is his first start since August 4.
Ted Lilly has won nine games this year. Three of them are vs. the Astros; he gave up four homers to them in Houston in his first start of the year on April 8, but has allowed only 17 HR in his 21 other starts, and overall this year is 3-0, 3.06 vs. Houston. This will be his first start vs. the Astros in Chicago in 2009; the three others were all in Houston. Astros hitters are hitting .195 (43-for-221) vs. Ted.
The Cubs and Astros are cable-only today, CSN Chicago and FSN Houston. For other games today see the MLB.com Mediacenter.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Please visit our SB Nation Astros site The Crawfish Boxes.
Overflow comment threads will post today at 2:15 pm, 3:15 pm and 4 pm CDT.
Discuss amongst yourselves.
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