Bleed Cubbie Blue - Cubs vs. Astros 10/1 Game ThreadsA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2012-10-02T06:56:31-05:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/32007732012-10-02T06:56:31-05:002012-10-02T06:56:31-05:00Cubs Suffer 100th 2012 Defeat
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<figcaption>David Banks - Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Cubs dropped their 100th game of 2012 to a team worse than they are in this year's standings. Somehow, that seems completely appropriate.</p> <p>It occurred to me during <a href="http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2012_10_01_houmlb_chnmlb_1" target="_blank">the Cubs' 3-0 loss to the Astros</a>, their 100th defeat of 2012, that you'd have to be about my age to have clear memories of the last <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> 100-loss season (1966), and that at least 90 percent of the "crowd" in attendance probably had not been born when that 46-years-ago team suffered its 100th defeat.</p>
<p>I say "crowd" because maybe 11,000 of the 32,167 announced were actually in Wrigley Field to see this little bit of history go in the books.</p>
<p>About the game itself, there isn't much to say. Houston's <span>Fernando Martinez</span> crushed a colossal home run onto Sheffield leading off the second inning, and we might as well have all gone home and watched the Bears beat the Cowboys right then, because the Cubs' offense looked like it was thinking about doing just that all night.</p>
<p><span>David DeJesus</span> led off the bottom of the first inning with a single, went to second on a groundout, and was wild-pitched to third base. After the wild pitch, <span>Alfonso Soriano</span> walked. <span>Anthony Rizzo</span> doubled leading off the fourth, and also advanced on a groundout.</p>
<p>If you are waiting for further descriptions of Cubs hitting, or baserunning, or scoring, you will have to wait until at least Tuesday night, because the paragraph above was it. Houston's <span>Lucas Harrell</span> -- a pretty good pitcher -- and three Houston relievers faced just those three batters over the minimum, retiring everyone else. Apart from the two hits, just three other Cubs hit baseballs out of the infield. It was rare enough Monday night that we should pause to note those events: DeJesus flied to left in the third, <span>Darwin Barney</span> to right in the fifth and <span>Starlin Castro</span> also lofted a harmless out to right in the seventh. Cubs hitters struck out 11 times.</p>
<p>As badly as the Houstons have played in 2012, that was their third win by shutout in their last five games. They have won eight games by shutout this year; the Cubs, by comparison, have nine such games.</p>
<p>As I noted in the preview for this game, someday <span>Jason Berken</span> will be one of three answers to a trivia question: Who were the losing pitchers in the Cubs' 100th defeat in their triple-digit loss seasons? (The others, in case you want to win a bar bet someday, are Rich Nye in 1966 and Jim Brewer in 1962.) We have, I trust, seen Mr. Berken's final appearance in Cubs blue pinstripes. Hope they give him one of the jerseys as a memento. In case you didn't recognize him -- and few Cubs fans would -- that's his open-mouthed visage at the top of this post, a pose that I believe quite well sums up the awfulness of 2012.</p>
<p>And now, you have witnessed history that was 46 years in the making. The 1966 team had some similarities to this year's; it was under new management in the form of Leo Durocher. Though front-office management had not changed, Durocher had considerable influence, much more than a field manager today would have. He famously said when hired in October 1965, "This isn't an eighth-place team." He was, of course, correct in both fact and meaning. The 1966 Cubs finished 10th. But Durocher meant that it was too talented a team to finish that low in the standings; the next year they finished third in a 10-team league, on their way to what all of you know: seven years of contention, followed each year by heartbreak, as a team led by four future Hall of Famers fell short each time.</p>
<p>This year's bunch probably doesn't have any future Hall of Famers, but at least two of its rank, Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro, have the potential to be perennial <span class="sbn-auto-link">All-Stars</span>. A handful of other players, including <span>Jeff Samardzija</span> and Darwin Barney, could be solid contributors to winning teams in the future, if Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer surround them with good enough talent in years to come.</p>
<p>So remember this day, and what happened Monday, October 1, 2012. Years from now, you might view it as a badge of honor, and a turning point.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2012/10/2/3442670/cubs-100th-loss-defeat-2012-astros-recapAl Yellon2012-10-01T21:55:06-05:002012-10-01T21:55:06-05:00Overflow Thread 3: Cubs vs. Astros, Monday 10/1
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<p>Nothing to see here. Move along.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2012/10/1/3437716/overflow-thread-3-cubs-vs-astros-monday-10-1-7-05-ctAl Yellon2012-10-01T20:05:03-05:002012-10-01T20:05:03-05:00Overflow Thread 1: Cubs vs. Astros, Monday 10/1
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<p>Text. Nothing here but text.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2012/10/1/3437694/overflow-thread-1-cubs-vs-astros-monday-10-1-7-05-ctAl Yellon2012-10-01T17:00:11-05:002012-10-01T17:00:11-05:00Chicago Cubs vs. Houston Astros Preview, Mon 10/1
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<figcaption>Ralph Freso - Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Existential question of the day: If a major-league baseball game is played and no one pays any attention to it, does it really happen?</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/1470817/jaycutlerheadshot.jpg" alt="Jay Cutler" border="1" height="142" width="100"></a><br><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/7760" target="newwindow">Jay Cutler</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/8775" target="newwindow"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1470809/tonyromoheadshot.jpg" alt="Tony Romo" border="1" height="142" width="100"></a><br><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/6624" target="newwindow">Tony Romo</a><br>Astros</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p> </p>
<p>Okay, I made that up. But since virtually all of you will be paying attention to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Bears</a>/<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bloggingtheboys.com/">Cowboys</a> game tonight, and not the Cubs/Astros game, I had an idea. What if these two quarterbacks were the starting pitchers tonight at Wrigley Field?</p>
<p>The Cubs would probably have a much better chance of winning. <span>Jay Cutler</span> has a great arm -- that's always been the thing that sold Bears management and fans on him. If he had decided to play baseball instead of football when he was younger, I don't doubt that he could have become a hard-throwing major-league righthander, with a <span>Roger Clemens</span>-like sneer. Not as talented as Clemens, though. Maybe... a less-friendly <span>Matt Garza</span>?</p>
<p>Meanwhile, <span>Tony Romo</span>? High completion percentage, low interception percentage. Not good in the playoffs, though. I'm thinking someone like... <span>A.J. Burnett</span>. Or, since Romo has had highly-publicized romances with female celebrities, maybe <span>Brad Penny</span>. (The younger version of Penny, not the bloated middle reliever now with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a>.)</p>
<p>Had enough fun with this? I'll be real interested to see how many other die-hard baseball fans show up at Wrigley this evening to see the titanic matchup between... Jason Berken and Lucas Harrell. Hey, it's October baseball! In Chicago! (Prediction: fewer than 10,000 actually in the house tonight, no matter what the announced crowd is.)</p>
<p>Cubs lineup:</p>
<blockquote>DeJesus CF, Sappelt RF, Rizzo 1B, Soriano LF, Castro SS, Valbuena 3B, Castillo C, Barney 2B, Berken P</blockquote>
<p>Astros lineup:</p>
<blockquote>Altuve 2B, Moore RF, Lowrie SS, F. Martinez LF, Wallace 1B, Dominguez 3B, Castro C, Barnes CF, Harrell P</blockquote>
<p>And, here are tonight's real starting pitchers.</p>
<p> </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/8775" target="newwindow"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1294479/140681382.jpg" alt="Lucas Harrell" border="1" height="142" width="100"></a><br><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/8775" target="newwindow">Lucas Harrell</a><br>Astros</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">0-2</td>
<td class="yspscores" align="center">W-L</td>
<td class="yspscores" align="center">10-11</td>
</tr>
<tr class="ysprow2" valign="top">
<td class="yspscores" align="center">5.14</td>
<td class="yspscores" align="center">ERA</td>
<td class="yspscores" align="center">3.88</td>
</tr>
<tr class="ysprow1" valign="top">
<td class="yspscores" align="center">9</td>
<td class="yspscores" align="center">SO</td>
<td class="yspscores" align="center">133</td>
</tr>
<tr class="ysprow2" valign="top">
<td class="yspscores" align="center">5</td>
<td class="yspscores" align="center">BB</td>
<td class="yspscores" align="center">77</td>
</tr>
<tr class="ysprow1" valign="top">
<td class="yspscores" align="center">2</td>
<td class="yspscores" align="center">HR</td>
<td class="yspscores" align="center">13</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. Hou</a></td>
<td class="yspscores" align="center">--</td>
<td class="yspscores" align="center"><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/bvsp?playerId=29937" 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>0-2</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>14.0</td>
<td>19</td>
<td>12</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>9</td>
<td>5.14</td>
<td class="td-last">1.71</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>Lucas Harrell</span>
</td>
<td>10-11</td>
<td>34</td>
<td>31</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>187.2</td>
<td>183</td>
<td>90</td>
<td>81</td>
<td>13</td>
<td>77</td>
<td>133</td>
<td>3.88</td>
<td class="td-last">1.39</td>
</tr></tbody>
</table>
</div>
<hr class="widget_boundry_marker">
<p>Jason Berken has never faced the Astros, and has faced just two players on their roster (<span>Jed Lowrie</span> and <span>Fernando Martinez</span>, total 0-for-6). It's really hard to tell what he'll do tonight; he's had a really good start against a good team, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Reds</a> (though against a makeshift Cincinnati lineup), and followed that with a really bad start against a bad team, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a>. Years from now, he'll likely be the answer to a trivia question: Who was the losing pitcher when the Cubs lost their 100th game of 2012?</p>
<p>Lucas Harrell came up through the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.southsidesox.com/">White Sox</a> farm system and was acquired in 2011 on waivers by the Astros. He's been their best starter this year, and that's actually saying something: Harrell has put up a 2.4 WAR season for a 106-loss team. He made what is probably his best start of the season against the Cubs, <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN201208140.shtml" target="_blank">August 14 at Wrigley Field</a>, when he threw eight innings and gave up just one run. Years from now, he'll likely be the answer to the trivia question: Who was the winning pitcher when the Cubs lost their 100th game of 2012?</p>
<p>Today's game is on CSN Chicago.</p>
<p><a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mediacenter/index.jsp?ymd=20121001" 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_10_01_houmlb_chnmlb_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/87135/pregame" target="_blank">SB Nation game preview</a></p>
<p>Please visit our SB Nation <a href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Astros</a> site <a href="http://www.crawfishboxes.com/" target="_blank">The Crawfish Boxes</a>.</p>
<p>Based on some feedback from all of you, 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 before game time (this one's up a little earlier due to the somewhat-late start, the last late start of the year).</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 StoryStreamâ„¢ for each game where you can find <i>all</i> the discussion threads. For today's game <a href="http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2012/10/1/3436732/cubs-astros-game-threads-october-1">go to this GameStream</a> (as I'm calling them); you'll find the First Pitch Thread there at 7:05 p.m. CDT and the others will post in that stream at 8:05, 9:05 and 9:50 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/2012/10/1/3436752/chicago-cubs-houston-astros-preview-mondayAl Yellon2012-10-01T07:10:27-05:002012-10-01T07:10:27-05:00Cubs vs. Astros 10/1 Game Threads
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<figcaption>Ralph Freso - Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Here is where you will find all the game threads for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a>/<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.crawfishboxes.com/">Astros</a> game on Monday, October 1.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2012/10/1/3436730/cubs-vs-astros-10-1-game-threadsAl Yellon