Bleed Cubbie Blue - Cubs vs. Rockies 9/26 Game ThreadsA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2012-09-27T07:07:26-05:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/31773412012-09-27T07:07:26-05:002012-09-27T07:07:26-05:00Rain, Rockies, Repeat: Cubs Closer To No. 2 Pick
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<figcaption>Doug Pensinger - Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>It rained in Denver Wednesday night. The Cubs lost. This seems depressingly familiar.</p> <p>Didn't we see this game Monday night?</p>
<p>Rain? Check.</p>
<p>Lots of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a> runs? Check. Not enough <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> runs -- well, check, sort of; <i>no</i> Cubs runs scored.</p>
<p>It was just before midnight Chicago time when <a href="http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2012_09_26_chnmlb_colmlb_1" target="_blank">the Cubs' 6-0 loss to the Rockies</a> concluded after a rain delay of an hour and a half. Truth be told, they shouldn't have bothered; no runs were scored after the delay, so pitchers <span>Michael Bowden</span> (Cubs) and <span>Rob Scahill</span> (Rockies) were basically getting in their side work, although this night they did it on the pitcher's mound instead of in the bullpen in front of a few diehard, bored and wet fans. Both pitchers, incidentally, are Chicago-area natives; Bowden played high school ball at Waubonsie Valley in Aurora and Scahill at Willowbrook (and then college ball at Bradley).</p>
<p>Yes, that's how bored I am. Talking about where two middling relief pitchers who might not even be around next year played high school baseball.</p>
<p>Not only that, we saw the same type of play Wednesday night that we saw <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/HOU/HOU201209110.shtml" target="_blank">September 11 in Houston</a>; that night, it might have cost the Cubs a win when <span>Dave Sappelt</span> was thrown out at third base after a fly ball before <span>Starlin Castro</span> could cross the plate with what would have been the tying run (and the Cubs lost 1-0).</p>
<p>Wednesday, it was <span>Joe Mather</span> getting himself thrown out at third while <span>Josh Vitters</span> was about a step away from scoring a run in the top of the seventh inning. This is something I thought the Cubs had done this year -- worked better on baserunning fundamentals. Guess Dale Sveum will have his hands full next spring training working on this. (Maybe better this than a bunting tournament, eh, Dale?)</p>
<p>By losing, the Cubs reduced their magic number to clinch the No. 2 pick in the 2013 draft to six. No, I am not rooting for the Cubs to lose. (They're doing a pretty good job of losing on their own -- they don't seem to need my help.) The loss was the 16th straight defeat for the Cubs in a NL West park, dating back to the final game of 2011.</p>
<p>This recap is pretty short. There's a reason for that. I don't really know what else to say. <span>Jason Berken</span> is probably not going to be on this team next year, so his performance in this game is pretty irrelevant. I suppose Michael Bowden has a shot at the 2013 bullpen; his performance over his last 10 appearances has been quite good (12 innings, six hits, seven walks, 12 strikeouts, one earned run, 0.75 ERA, 1.083 WHIP). But then again, some baseball people will tell you to discount performances in September games.</p>
<p>The teams will wrap up their season series Thursday afternoon. Unless the Cubs can find a way to win, they'll lose that season series to Colorado (it now stands Rockies 3 games, Cubs 2). The game preview will post at noon CDT.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2012/9/27/3416576/cubs-lose-rockies-rain-recapAl Yellon2012-09-26T22:25:06-05:002012-09-26T22:25:06-05:00Overflow Thread 3: Cubs vs. Rockies, Wed 9/26
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<p>There needs to be text here. So here it is.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2012/9/26/3411456/overflow-thread-3-cubs-vs-rockies-wednesday-9-26-7-40-ctAl Yellon2012-09-26T21:40:03-05:002012-09-26T21:40:03-05:00Overflow Thread 2: Cubs vs. Rockies, Wed 9/26
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<p>There needs to be text here. So here it is.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2012/9/26/3411448/overflow-thread-2-cubs-vs-rockies-wednesday-9-26-7-40-ctAl Yellon2012-09-26T20:40:05-05:002012-09-26T20:40:05-05:00Overflow Thread 1: Cubs vs. Rockies, Wed 9/2
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<p>There has to be some text here. So here it is.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2012/9/26/3411436/overflow-thread-1-cubs-vs-rockies-wednesday-9-26-7-40-ctAl Yellon2012-09-26T17:00:23-05:002012-09-26T17:00:23-05:00Chicago Cubs vs Colorado Rockies Preview, Wed 9/26
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<figcaption>Doug Pensinger/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Cubs/Rockies epic battle for the No. 2 pick in the 2013 draft continues in Denver Wednesday night.</p> <p>All right, I'm buying into this race for the No. 2 draft pick completely. After all, what else do we have? Sure. Bring me to the dark side.</p>
<p>After Tuesday night's loss, the Cubs' "magic number" for clinching the No. 2 draft pick in 2013 is eight. Any combination of eight Rockies wins and Cubs defeats locks in that second pick for next year.</p>
<p>Now, seriously, I'm not rooting for the Cubs to lose. I don't do that and won't. At the same time, there is apparently a significant difference in the total amount the Cubs would have available to them in the 2013 draft for <i>all</i> draft picks (not just slot money for No. 2 vs. No. 3, but for every round) if they were to finish worse than the Rockies.</p>
<p>That might help future years. This one's done. (Also see below for some important information about game threads.)</p>
<p>Cubs lineup:</p>
<blockquote>Sappelt RF, Barney 2B, Rizzo 1B, Soriano LF, Castro SS, Castillo C, Vitters 3B, Mather CF, Berken P</blockquote>
<p>Easy way to stay in the starting lineup: hit a home run leading off the game. Nice work, <span>Sappy Sappelt</span>!</p>
<p>Rockies lineup:</p>
<blockquote>Rutledge SS, Blackmon LF, Pacheco 1B, Rosario C, Colvin CF, Nelson 3B, Brown RF, LeMahieu 2B, Pomeranz P</blockquote>
<p>More guys you've never heard of.</p>
<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" width="280"><tbody>
<tr class="yspsctbg">
<td class="ysptblhdr" align="center" height="18"><b><i>Today's Starting Pitchers</i></b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="ysptblbdr2">
<table class="yspwhitebg" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="140"><tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="3" height="3">
<spacer type="block" height="1" width="1"></spacer><spacer></spacer>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="yspscores" align="center" width="35%">
<a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/8497" target="newwindow"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1347499/jasonberkenheadshot.jpg" alt="Jason Berken" border="1" height="142" width="100"></a><br><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/8497" target="newwindow">Jason Berken</a><br><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a>
</td>
<td align="center" width="30%">vs.</td>
<td class="yspscores" align="center" width="35%">
<a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/9068" target="newwindow"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1311104/drewpomeranzheadshot.jpg" alt="Drew Pomeranz" border="1" height="142" width="100"></a><br><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/9068" target="newwindow">Drew Pomeranz</a><br>Rockies</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="ysptblbdr2" colspan="35">
<spacer type="block" height="1" width="1"></spacer><spacer></spacer>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="ysprow1" valign="top">
<td class="yspscores" align="center">0-1</td>
<td class="yspscores" align="center">W-L</td>
<td class="yspscores" align="center">1-9</td>
</tr>
<tr class="ysprow2" valign="top">
<td class="yspscores" align="center">1.80</td>
<td class="yspscores" align="center">ERA</td>
<td class="yspscores" align="center">5.30</td>
</tr>
<tr class="ysprow1" valign="top">
<td class="yspscores" align="center">7</td>
<td class="yspscores" align="center">SO</td>
<td class="yspscores" align="center">73</td>
</tr>
<tr class="ysprow2" valign="top">
<td class="yspscores" align="center">3</td>
<td class="yspscores" align="center">BB</td>
<td class="yspscores" align="center">41</td>
</tr>
<tr class="ysprow1" valign="top">
<td class="yspscores" align="center">1</td>
<td class="yspscores" align="center">HR</td>
<td class="yspscores" align="center">12</td>
</tr>
<tr class="ysprow2" valign="top">
<td class="yspscores" align="center"><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/bvsp?playerId=30363" target="newwindow">vs. Col</a></td>
<td class="yspscores" align="center">--</td>
<td class="yspscores" align="center"><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/bvsp?playerId=31010" target="newwindow">vs. Cubs</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="pane sports_data_widget player_stats clearfix">
<table class="zebra">
<thead><tr>
<th></th> <th>W-L</th> <th>G</th> <th>GS</th> <th>CG</th> <th>SHO</th> <th>SV</th> <th>BS</th> <th>IP</th> <th>H</th> <th>R</th> <th>ER</th> <th>HR</th> <th>BB</th> <th>K</th> <th>ERA</th> <th>WHIP</th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody><tr>
<td class="td-name td-first">2012 - <span>Jason Berken</span>
</td>
<td>0-1</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>10.0</td>
<td>10</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>1.80</td>
<td class="td-last">1.30</td>
</tr></tbody>
</table>
</div>
<hr class="widget_boundry_marker">
<hr class="widget_boundry_marker">
<div class="pane sports_data_widget player_stats clearfix">
<table class="zebra">
<thead><tr>
<th></th> <th>W-L</th> <th>G</th> <th>GS</th> <th>CG</th> <th>SHO</th> <th>SV</th> <th>BS</th> <th>IP</th> <th>H</th> <th>R</th> <th>ER</th> <th>HR</th> <th>BB</th> <th>K</th> <th>ERA</th> <th>WHIP</th>
</tr></thead>
<tbody><tr>
<td class="td-name td-first">2012 - <span>Drew Pomeranz</span>
</td>
<td>1-9</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>20</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>86.2</td>
<td>91</td>
<td>55</td>
<td>51</td>
<td>12</td>
<td>41</td>
<td>73</td>
<td>5.30</td>
<td class="td-last">1.52</td>
</tr></tbody>
</table>
</div>
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<p>Jason Berken has never faced the Rockies. Players on the current Rox roster are 1-for-4 against him (a <span>Jason Giambi</span> double). He threw very well in his last start. Who knows? Maybe it'll continue. (Probably, it won't.)</p>
<p>Drew Pomeranz, the No. 1 pick of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.letsgotribe.com/">Indians</a> in 2010, joined the Rockies last year in the <span>Ubaldo Jimenez</span> deal. Since coming to the major leagues with Colorado, he's been consistent -- consistently bad. His career ERA is 5.31. That's 5.30 this year and 5.40 last year. He pitched five decent innings against the Cubs <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN201208240.shtml" target="_blank">August 24 at Wrigley Field</a>; the two runs off him were solo homers (<span>Welington Castillo</span> and <span>Alfonso Soriano</span>). Maybe doom is not in our future for tonight.</p>
<p>Today's game is on CSN Chicago.</p>
<p><a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mediacenter/index.jsp?ymd=20120926" target="_blank">Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.</a></p>
<p><a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2012_09_26_chnmlb_colmlb_1&mode=gameday" target="_blank">MLB.com Gameday</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/previews/CHC.shtml" target="_blank">Baseball-reference.com game preview</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/events/87099/pregame" target="_blank">SB Nation game preview</a></p>
<p>Please visit our SB Nation <a href="https://www.purplerow.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Rockies</a> site <a href="http://www.purplerow.com/" target="_blank">Purple Row</a>.</p>
<p>Based on some feedback you all gave me in the recap post from this morning, I'm going to adjust the way I'm doing game threads -- hopefully, this method will work, starting tonight and for the rest of this season.</p>
<p>You'll see the game preview -- like this one -- as usual, two hours (2½ in this case) before game time.</p>
<p>Then, the other discussion threads will post on time schedules as they always have, first pitch thread at game time, overflows at one hour, two hours and 2:45 after game time. I will create a stream for each game where you can find <i>all</i> the discussion threads. For today's game <a href="http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2012/9/26/3413300/cubs-rockies-game-threads-september-26">go to this GameStream</a> (as I'm calling them); you'll find the First Pitch Thread there at 7:40 p.m. CDT and the others will post in that stream at 8:40, 9:40 and 10:25 p.m. CDT.</p>
<p>Once the game is over and I write a recap, it will post as a separate story on the front page; I'll have the preview and recap up there as individual stories, but they will also reside in the stream. Hope that makes more sense and makes things easier to find. The game threads can all also be found in the section titled <a href="http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/game-threads">Chicago Cubs Game Threads</a>, which you can find at that link or in the drop-down menu under "Sections" in the middle of the site.</p>
<p>Let me know if this works, or if you have other suggestions.</p>
<p>Discuss amongst yourselves.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2012/9/26/3410880/chicago-cubs-colorado-rockies-preview-wednesdayAl Yellon2012-09-26T14:42:47-05:002012-09-26T14:42:47-05:00Cubs vs. Rockies 9/26 Game Threads
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<p>Here is where you will find all the in-game discussion threads for the September 26 game vs. the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a>.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2012/9/26/3413260/cubs-vs-rockies-9-26-game-threadsAl Yellon