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Not only have the Cubs had a horrendous record at Miller Park for the last two-plus years, they haven't done well against the Brewers overall. Since the start of the 2011 season, the Cubs are 11-26 against their rivals from up I-94. The last time the Cubs won a game in Miller Park was June 5, 2010 (amusement value in the lineup for that game); they've lost seven straight in Milwaukee since then.
Another odd coincidence -- and it has to be, right? -- is the Cubs' record on different TV channels so far this year:
WGN: 4-3 CSN: 1-7 Fox: O-1
I mean... it shouldn't matter what channel the game is on, right? But there it is. I remember back in 2007 when the Cubs had lost 18 straight games televised on WGN. It got to the point where Len Kasper and Bob Brenly were making jokes about it. Today's game is on CSN, which, based on those numbers, doesn't bode well.
Also of interest is the game on Fox, a loss last Saturday to the Giants. The Cubs went 0-7 on national networks last year (0-6 on Fox, 0-1 on ESPN). The last game they won that was televised on a national network was August 20, 2011, a 3-0 win over the Cardinals at Wrigley Field that was on Fox (and check out who pitched for St. Louis that day).
I realize this is all likely coincidental. But what else do we have to talk about? The Cubs' record going into today's game is one game better than it was after 16 games a year ago. I am well aware that contention is not a possibility this year, but the team would surely like some of its tradeable parts to perform better. Perhaps that, at least, will begin today.
Cubs lineup:
DeJesus CF, Castro SS, Rizzo 1B, Soriano LF, Schierholtz RF, Castillo C, Valbuena 3B, Barney 2B, Feldman P
I'm on my way to Milwaukee to see this game. The Brewers lineup wasn't available at the time I wrote this post; check the BCB Twitter feed for the Brewers lineup.
Today's Starting Pitchers |
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Scott Feldman has made two starts this year, neither of them very good, and he hasn't completed the fifth inning yet. Due to off days and rainouts, he hasn't pitched in a game in 10 days. Whether that's a good thing or not remains to be seen. He's faced the Brewers just once in his career, June 12, 2010 at Miller Park; just a handful of those players are still on the team. Yuniesky Betancourt is 5-for-16 (.313) lifetime against Feldman with two doubles. That kind of figures, doesn't it?
Wily Peralta faced the Cubs April 9 at Wrigley Field; the Cubs hit him pretty well, and actually won the game. Of course, this game is being played indoors and the April 9 game was played in freezing-cold conditions outdoors. So this could be an entirely different Peralta we see this afternoon.
As noted above, today's game is on CSN Chicago.
Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Please visit our SB Nation Brewers site Brew Crew Ball. The usual caution is advised.
Here's the scoop on game threads for 2013. You'll find the game preview -- like this one -- posting as the first link in the StoryStream™, which will then contain all the overflow threads and the recap. The recap will also be on the front page as a separate post; once I post a game recap, the stream for each game will be retitled "Cubs vs. (Team) (Day of Week) Game Threads" so you can go back and find every thread related to that particular game.
In general, game previews will post two hours before game time. Exception: for day games after night games, that will usually be 90 minutes.
You will also be able to find the First Pitch Thread and all the overflow threads in the box marked "Chicago Cubs Game Threads" at the bottom of the front page (you can also find them in this section link). They will also appear in this StoryStream™. As I've done for each regular-season game for several years now, we'll have the First Pitch thread at five minutes before game time (moved up from actual game time per your requests), then an overflow one hour, two hours and 2:45 after game time.
Discuss amongst yourselves.