Cubs vs. Rockies Preview, Tuesday 5/14, 7:05 CT: 35 Years Ago Today

Last month, we "celebrated" the 30th anniversary of the famous Lee Elia managerial tirade.

Today is the 35th anniversary of another Cubs-related manager rant, though this wasn't done by a Cubs manager. Instead, it was the reaction of Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda, after Cubs left fielder Dave Kingman had smashed three home runs, including a three-run game-winner in the 15th inning at Dodger Stadium in a 10-7 Cubs win. One of the home runs -- I believe it might have been the game-winner -- left the premises completely, a titanic shot at that stadium.

After the game, a young reporter asked Lasorda, "What is your opinion of Kingman's performance?"

Here's what Lasorda said. WARNING! NSFW! (Incidentally, the young reporter who asked that question 35 years ago is now the public-address announcer at Yankee Stadium.

35 years ago today. Wow. Tempus fugit, indeed.

No tirades needed today, just the Cubs, hopefully, posting their fourth straight win. If they can do it, it will be their longest winning streak of 2013 and match their longest streak of 2012, which they did not accomplish until late July.

And a note about the Cubs' doubles: after yesterday's six-double outburst the Cubs have 87 two-base hits and lead the league in doubles, averaging 2.29 per game. That's a lot, but it's far enough into the season that we can look at a "pace". If the Cubs somehow keep up this pace, they will obliterate the team record for doubles in a season. That's 340, set in 1931, tied in 2007. They'd also come very close to the major-league record, which is 376, set by the 2008 Texas Rangers. The current pace would give the Cubs 371 doubles this year.

Something to watch for, anyway.

Cubs lineup:

DeJesus CF, Castro SS, Rizzo 1B, Soriano LF, Hairston RF, Castillo C, Ransom 3B, Barney 2B, Villanueva P

Well, that's interesting. Just a few days after Dale Sveum said Starlin Castro would lead off against lefthanders, he's leading off David DeJesus against a lefthander. DDJ is 2-for-12 against lefties this year.

Rockies lineup:

Young RF, Fowler CF, Gonzalez LF, Tulowitzki SS, Rosario C, Helton 1B, Arenado 3B, Rutledge 2B, Francis P

Today's Starting Pitchers

Carlos Villanueva Cubs vs. Jeff Francis Rockies vs. Col -- vs. Cubs

Carlos Villanueva has made 11 relief appearances against the Rockies in his career. You really don't want to know what his record is against them. Current Rockies, though, are hitting a modest but not great .297 (11-for-37) with four home runs. This appears to be a new Villanueva, so perhaps "previous performance does not guarantee current results".

Jeff Francis hasn't faced the Cubs since July 30, 2010, and I post that link mostly so you can see how much the Cubs have changed in three years. Francis has made seven starts this year and has gotten past the fifth inning in one of them -- his first of the year, none since -- and has a 6.90 ERA and 1.767 WHIP. Even the Cubs' impotent vs. LHP lineup might be able to hit him. Maybe this is the day Scott Hairston starts to hit; he's 7-for-19 (.368) lifetime against Francis.

Today's game is on CSN Chicago.

Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

SB Nation game preview

Please visit our SB Nation Rockies site Purple Row.

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.