Bleed Cubbie Blue - Cubs vs. Giants Saturday Game ThreadsA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2013-04-13T16:15:47-05:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/39827552013-04-13T16:15:47-05:002013-04-13T16:15:47-05:00Giants 3, Cubs 2: Wake Me Up When November Ends
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Dioner Navarro hit a pinch-homer for the second straight game, but it wasn't enough to help the Cubs overcome a deficit.</p> <p>There have been colder baseball days than Saturday at Wrigley Field, but not many. 38 degrees at game time with a 16 mile-per-hour wind created a wind chill of 28. Big cheers erupted any time the sun made a brief appearance, but even then it never really got warm. This April, instead of spring, feels like an endless November. I think I felt warmer at the NHL Winter Classic, which was played January 1. Maybe next year they can start the baseball season in January, when it's warmer.</p>
<p>I'll say one thing for this year's <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> team, as compared to last year's -- at least they're competitive in pretty much every game. Saturday, it wasn't quite enough; the club's third straight one-run game ended in defeat, <a href="http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2013_04_13_sfnmlb_chnmlb_1" target="_blank">3-2 to the Giants</a>, despite <span>Dioner Navarro's</span> pinch-hit home run. Navarro has now homered in consecutive pinch-hit at-bats. If you think that's rare, you're right. Only once in Cubs history before this week has the same player hit pinch-homers in consecutive games -- Dale Long, who did it <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN195908130.shtml" target="_blank">August 13, 1959</a> and <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN195908140.shtml" target="_blank">August 14, 1959</a>, oddly enough, also against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/">Giants</a> (the Cubs won both of those games, unlike this year). The Cubs hit just six pinch-homers all of 2012, so having two so far this year is way ahead of that pace, obviously.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, Navarro's heroics weren't enough to win the game. <span>Jeff Samardzija</span> threw six credible innings, but until Navarro's blast, <span>Madison Bumgarner</span> had been better. Bumgarner is, after all, one of the best pitchers in the league and there are times you have to just give credit to the other guy. This time, I'll say that <span>Michael Bowden</span> has to take his share of the blame, for giving up what turned out to be the winning run in the seventh inning. <span>Brandon Crawford</span> led off the inning with a single, and then Bumgarner set up to bunt him to second. Bowden tried to get Crawford at second, but his throw was too late, and that turned out to be the key play in that inning. After another bunt -- this time Bowden <i>did</i> get the lead runner, Crawford, at third, but with only one out that set up <span>Marco Scutaro</span> to drive in Bumgarner with a single for the Giants' third run.</p>
<p>After Navarro's homer, Dale Sveum called on <span>Carlos Marmol</span>. Marmol walked <span>Buster Posey</span> on four pitches. This should not surprise you; four-pitch walks to the first batter he faces seem to be a Marmol specialty. After he threw ball one to <span>Hunter Pence</span>, Chris Bosio came out to talk to him. Marmol then got Pence to pop up, got <span>Brandon Belt</span> to hit into a force play (that came very close to being a double play) and struck out <span>Andres Torres</span>.</p>
<p>What could Bosio have said to Marmol that made such a big difference? Leave your thoughts in the comments.</p>
<p>The Cubs got the tying and lead runs on base with nobody out in the eighth, and then <span>Alfonso Soriano</span> hit a ball that went off <span>Pablo Sandoval's</span> glove at third. Just a tiny bit more speed and Soriano would have been safe; as it was, the runners moved to scoring position with one out. Good, right?</p>
<p>Well, no. <span>Nate Schierholtz</span> batted for <span>Scott Hairston</span> and was intentionally walked, and <span>Welington Castillo</span> smacked <span>Santiago Casilla's</span> first pitch right to Crawford for an easy double play. Hey, Welington! Take a pitch or two in a situation like that, willya? When a fly ball ties the game?</p>
<p>The Cubs went out meekly 1-2-3 in the ninth inning, and the last out might have ruined <span>Steve Clevenger's</span> attempt to become a supersub for this year's Cubs. Swinging at strike three, Clevenger immediately fell to the ground and didn't get up for about five minutes, then walked gingerly back to the dugout assisted by coaches and the team trainer. Given Clevenger's oblique injury from last year that wrecked most of his season, I feared that might have recurred, and this indicates that might be true:</p>
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<p>Clevenger is getting MRI today with a possible left-oblique injury that he sustained on his game-ending swing.</p>
— The Northwest Herald (@InsideTheCubs) <a href="https://twitter.com/InsideTheCubs/status/323176484837675008">April 13, 2013</a>
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<p>That's really a shame as Clevenger had worked very hard to make the team, and his versatility was becoming quite useful for the club. I hope for the best, but am afraid this could put Clevenger out for a couple of months.</p>
<p>I can remember other Aprils when the Cubs played through cold, or drizzly, or windy, or rainy weather, but not every single day; at least there was no rain Saturday, though a few snow flurries dotted the sky at times. The average game-time temperature so far through five dates is 44, and that includes 61 degrees on Opening Day. No other game has been played in anything near good baseball weather. But I'll give this Cubs team props, again; they have played the defending World Series champions (who were cheered on by a large, orange-clad contingent of their fans on the first-base side) tough three straight days and could have won all three games. That wasn't the case with last year's team, which seemed out of most games early and even when they were close, you somehow felt they'd do something to blow their chances. This year's team definitely has more talent.</p>
<p><a href="http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=41.94736215284164&lon=-87.65647888183594" target="_blank">The weather's supposed to be better Sunday</a>, with temperatures heading possibly close to 70. I'll believe it when I see it. The Cubs will go for a series split with <span>Edwin Jackson</span> facing <span>Tim Lincecum</span>.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2013/4/13/4221460/cubs-giants-recap-madison-bumgarner-dioner-navarro-mlb-scoresAl Yellon2013-04-13T14:50:06-05:002013-04-13T14:50:06-05:00Overflow Thread 3: Cubs vs. Giants, Saturday 4/12,
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>And, if the game runs long... keep up the comments here!</p> <p>Please?</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2013/4/13/4218730/overflow-thread-3-cubs-vs-giants-saturday-4-12-12-05-ctAl Yellon2013-04-13T14:05:03-05:002013-04-13T14:05:03-05:00Overflow Thread 1: Cubs vs. Giants, Saturday 4/12
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<figcaption>Brian Kersey</figcaption>
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<p>Still more comments ... right here!</p> <p>How about two straight?</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2013/4/13/4218726/overflow-thread-2-cubs-vs-giants-saturday-4-12-12-05-ctAl Yellon2013-04-13T13:05:05-05:002013-04-13T13:05:05-05:00Overflow Thread 1: Cubs vs. Giants, Saturday 4/12
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<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Here's another thread for commenting on this game.</p> <p>Go <a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Cubs</a>!</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2013/4/13/4218718/overflow-thread-1-cubs-vs-giants-saturday-4-12-12-05-ctAl Yellon2013-04-13T10:00:08-05:002013-04-13T10:00:08-05:00Cubs vs. Giants Preview, Saturday 4/13, 12:05 CT
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<p>Even though no rain is in the forecast for Saturday, it might sprinkle or flurry on Wrigley Field. Such is April 2013. And, here's your first 2013 look at the BCB Fox Wizard.</p> <p>Does winning a game in the way the Cubs won Friday have any predictive value? I haven't done any systematic research into this, but my sense is, "Not really."</p>
<p>Perhaps you remember <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200706290.shtml" target="_blank">this game</a>, a comeback from a 5-0 first-inning deficit capped by a walkoff home run against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brewcrewball.com/">Brewers</a>. Did it mean anything for the next day? Nope. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200706300.shtml" target="_blank">The Cubs got crushed 13-4</a> the day after that dramatic win.</p>
<p>On the other hand, following that blowout loss, that Cubs team went on a 12-4 run, and eventually made the playoffs. Note, I am in no way suggesting that the 2013 Cubs can do anything remotely resembling that.</p>
<p>It will be interesting to see how they do over the rest of this homestand, against two good teams. With just 10 games gone in this season, there's still time to set a tone for the rest of the year. I have no illusions about this year's Cubs, but as I have repeatedly said, I believe this is a better team than last year's.</p>
<p>Also today, the Cubs are giving away <a href="http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/schedule/promotions.jsp?c_id=chc&y=2013" target="_blank">replica Darwin Barney gold gloves</a>, one of the cooler promotional items of the year. Barney was supposed to get his award today, but did so yesterday, then headed to Iowa for a rehab assignment. He didn't play in Friday night's game, but is expected to play today and tomorrow before being activated Tuesday.</p>
<p>Finally, it's snowing in Chicago this morning. They should get the game in, but it's probably going to be even colder than it was Friday.</p>
<p>Cubs lineup:</p>
<blockquote><pre>Sappelt cf, Castro ss, Rizzo 1b, Soriano lf, Hairston rf, Castillo c, Lillibridge 3b, Gonzalez 2b, Samardzija p</pre></blockquote>
<p>The Giants lineup was in at the time I wrote this post. I'll try to send out the lineup later via <a href="http://www.twitter.com/bleedcubbieblue" target="_blank">the BCB Twitter feed</a>.</p>
<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" width="700"><tbody>
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<h2><i>Today's Starting Pitchers</i></h2>
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<a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/8281" target="newwindow"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2194783/162041998.jpg" alt="Jeff Samardzija" border="1" height="480" width="320"></a><br><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/8281" target="newwindow"> </a>
<h2>Jeff Samardzija</h2>
<br><h2>Cubs</h2>
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<td align="center" width="10%">vs.</td>
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<a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/8590" target="newwindow"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2465617/madisonbumgarner.jpg" alt="Madison Bumgarner" border="1" height="480" width="320"></a><br><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/8590" target="newwindow"> </a>
<h2>Madison Bumgarner</h2>
<br><h2>Giants</h2>
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<a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/bvsp?playerId=29166" target="newwindow"> </a>
<h2>vs. SF</h2>
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<td class="yspscores" align="center">--</td>
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<a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/bvsp?playerId=29949" target="newwindow"> </a>
<h2>vs. Cubs</h2>
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<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>
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<td class="td-name td-first">2013 - <span>Jeff Samardzija</span>
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<td>1-1</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>13.2</td>
<td>6</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>22</td>
<td>2.63</td>
<td class="td-last">.80</td>
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<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>
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<td class="td-name td-first">2013 - <span>Madison Bumgarner</span>
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<td>2-0</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>13.2</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>5</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>1.32</td>
<td class="td-last">.88</td>
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<p>Jeff Samardzija has 22 strikeouts in 13⅔ innings; that sounds great, but too many K's (along with some other issues) got him in trouble in his last start with a high pitch count. I'd rather just see him get outs, which he can clearly do without simply having to K everyone. He got in trouble with walks in his one start against the Giants in 2012, <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SFN/SFN201206040.shtml" target="_blank">June 4 in San Francisco</a>, which was during a time he was struggling. He has almost no record vs. current Giants -- they are 6-for-23 total. That might work to his advantage.</p>
<p>Madison Bumgarner has one good start this year (against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a>) and one mediocre one (against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.purplerow.com/">Rockies</a>). That seems backwards, but there you have it. Last year he had one good start against the Cubs (in San Francisco) and one mediocre one (at Wrigley Field). Hopefully, that will be a good sign for today. The Cub who hits Bumgarner best is <span>Alfonso Soriano</span> (6-for-13, three doubles, a home run). It's about time for Soriano to get out of his early-season funk.</p>
<p>Plus, doesn't Bumgarner look kind of sad in that photo?</p>
<p>Today's game is on Fox. <a href="http://www.the506.com/mlbmaps/" target="_blank">Here's the coverage map</a>; if you're in the Midwest and most of the West (except Washington state), you'll see this game. Otherwise, you're out of luck.</p>
<p><a href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mediacenter/index.jsp?ymd=20130401#date=4/13/2013" 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=2013_04_13_sfnmlb_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/116809/pregame" target="_blank">SB Nation game preview</a></p>
<p>Please visit our SB Nation <a href="https://www.mccoveychronicles.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Giants</a> site <a href="http://www.mccoveychronicles.com/" target="_blank">McCovey Chronicles</a>.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>In general, game previews will post two hours before game time. Exception: for day games after night games, that will usually be 90 minutes.</p>
<p>As has been the case during spring training, you will also be able to find the First Pitch Thread and all the overflow threads in the box marked "<a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Chicago Cubs</a> Game Threads" at the bottom of the front page (<a href="http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/game-threads">you can also find them in this section link</a>). 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.</p>
<p>Discuss amongst yourselves.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2013/4/13/4218656/chicago-cubs-san-francisco-giants-preview-saturdayAl Yellon