Since Miller Park opened in 2001, it's been one of the Cubs' favorite road parks. They have had only two losing seasons there (2002 and 2005) and are 44-31 against the Brewers there overall, including a series sweep there in April; they're 17-8 at Miller Park vs. Milwaukee since Lou Piniella became Cubs manager in 2007. Those numbers increase to 46-31 and 19-8 if you include the two-game sweep at Miller Park against the Astros in 2008.
With the Brewers struggling, there should again be a significant minority of Cubs fans in Milwaukee this week. I'll be there tomorrow night, if anyone's going to be there, drop me an email, perhaps we can meet up.
Rob Neyer at ESPN.com has some comments on Carlos Silva' great season and finishes up with these words we should all live by:
But I'm looking at Silva's numbers this season, and seeing he's struck out 6.3 batters per nine innings this season, after having not struck out more than 4.1 per nine innings in a season since 1993. And I'm thinking the real lesson in this case is an old one: Youneverknow.
Those last words, or "word", attributed many years ago to Cardinals righthander Joaquin Andujar, is true in many baseball senses. As my friend Mike says, "Anyone who tells you they have this game figured out, laugh in their face."
Finally, please indulge one more thought about the nastiness here last night. Thanks to BCB reader Ross, who sent me this 2008 article with a quote from then-Nationals (now Indians) manager Manny Acta:
Nationals manager Manny Acta, on negativity: "We live in a world where people love to boo instead of cheer. They'd rather say no than yes. They love to say, 'You (stink),' instead of, 'It's OK; you'll get them next time.' They love violence instead of calm. That's why I'm so worried and feel so bad about my daughter's future in this world.
Those of you who have kids -- and even if you don't -- think about Manny Acta's words before you post another incendiary comment. Thanks.
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The Cubs managed to miss Yovani Gallardo in both of the previous series vs. the Brewers. Gallardo is having a fine season, and not just on the mound: he's posted a .712 OPS as a hitter, with two HR in 26 at-bats. Against the Cubs lifetime, he's just a pedestrian 1-1 in four career starts with a 5.64 ERA. Current Cubs are hitting .350 (21-for-60) with nine walks, six doubles and a HR against him.
Ted Lilly is sort of the anti-Carlos Silva this year. By this I mean that unlike Silva, who is first in the NL in run support, Ted ranks fourth-to-last among qualified starters, getting only 2.8 runs per start, resulting in his 1-5 W-L record despite a decent 3.61 ERA. Ted's first start off the DL this year was in Miller Park and he threw six shutout innings. Some of the Brewers have hit him well in the past, but in his last five outings against Milwaukee, he's 3-1, 3.10, with only four walks and 25 K's in 29 innings.
Today's game is on cable, CSN Chicago Plus (check local listings) and FSN Wisconsin. Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Please visit our SB Nation Brewers site Brew Crew Ball. As always, be careful over there.
Today's first pitch thread will be up at 7 am CDT, and the overflows will post at 8, 9 and 9:45 pm CDT.
Discuss amongst yourselves.