Bleed Cubbie Blue - Cubs vs. Cardinals Thursday Game ThreadsA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2013-07-12T08:00:14-05:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/42647292013-07-12T08:00:14-05:002013-07-12T08:00:14-05:00Cubs 3, Cardinals 0: Edwin!
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/FT5GOmmVHK_fkPBr8bUuAqTfdc0=/0x75:4000x2742/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/16300797/20130711_kdl_bb6_056.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Maybe the $52 million man is worth the big contract after all.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> gave <span>Edwin Jackson</span> a four-year, $52 million deal before this season and I don't think anyone would disagree with the word "disappointment" to describe it, up to now. (You probably have more choice words, but we'll leave them out of this discussion.)</p>
<p>Thursday night, Jackson lived up to the hype. In by far his best performance of 2013, Jackson gave up just three hits and no walks in seven strong innings, striking out five. I could quibble with Dale Sveum for taking him out after seven, mainly because quibbling with Dale is sport around these parts, but the game wound up as one of the Cubs' best efforts of the season, <a href="http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2013_07_11_slnmlb_chnmlb_1" target="_blank">a 3-0 shutout of the Cardinals</a>, so the complaint department will be closed today. (Sveum was likely trying to get some more runs, as Jackson was scheduled to lead off the bottom of the seventh, but <span>Dave Sappelt</span> puts fear into no one as a pinch-hitter.)</p>
<p>It was the first shutout of this year's <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> since April 28 and just the second shutout by Cubs pitching this year (the other: <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHA/CHA201305270.shtml" target="_blank">May 27 over the White Sox</a>.</p>
<p>Better still was the fact that much of the offense was produced by two players who are supposed to be the beginning of the new core that's supposed to lead the Cubs to annual contention ... soon.</p>
<p><span>Anthony Rizzo</span> had two hits and a walk and drove in all three runs. He appears to be becoming a streak hitter, much like <span>Alfonso Soriano</span>. That's okay, because streak hitters can carry teams. What I'd like to see, and it's certainly possible for a 23-year-old hitter to adjust, is for him to be more consistent. Maybe it's starting. Not only that, but Rizzo's biggest hit, a two-run single in the third inning, was not only hit with two RISP, but snaked through in between shortstop and third base to the opposite field. Teams have been shifting on Rizzo; maybe hits like this will spread out the defense and help him spread out his hits.</p>
<p>Next, <span>Starlin Castro</span> is showing signs of coming out of his slump. He had three hits and much better at-bats, hit the ball hard, and is also playing better defense. He made several very nice plays Thursday night, and a lot of that appears to be due to better footwork and measuring his throws better.</p>
<p>If these two can have better second halves, the Cubs' offense suddenly looks a lot better.</p>
<p>Also providing an excellent defensive play was <span>Brian Bogusevic</span>, back in the lineup for the first time in a week. He made an outstanding running, leaping-into-the-ivy catch in deep center field on a drive leading off the seventh by <span>Matt Adams</span>. That provoked a gesture of "Thanks, man!" from Jackson that you see at the top of this recap.</p>
<p>The bullpen wasn't great -- <span>Blake Parker</span> got himself into trouble by allowing a single and a walk -- but <span>James Russell</span> and <span>Pedro Strop</span> got him out of it. Strop was summoned to face <span>Carlos Beltran</span> in a game situation -- Beltran representing the tying run, and you know how Beltran has hit Cubs pitching in the past. Strop struck him out with some real nice pitch selection and velocity. Strop had a bad year for Baltimore, but was quite good for them in 2012, and perhaps the Cubs have a real find in him. <span>Kevin Gregg</span> finished up for his 16th save, with Soriano making a nice grab of <span>Jon Jay's</span> sinking liner to end it.</p>
<p>The weather was perfect -- low 70s, low humidity, perfectly clear skies with <a href="https://twitter.com/bleedcubbieblue/status/355505464580120576" target="_blank">a thin crescent moon</a> visible in the western sky. The baseball was nearly perfect, good execution on virtually all aspects of the game by the Cubs, and made even better by shutting out their biggest rival. Since the Cubs lost three of four in St. Louis in mid-June, they are 12-7, while the Cardinals are 8-9.</p>
<p>I'd expect a huge walkup sale for Friday afternoon's game, which is supposed to be played in just-as-perfect weather; with the Cubs playing better and Cardinals fans headed up for the weekend, this could be one of the bigger crowds of the year.</p>
<p>This team is improved over last year's version, no question about it. Contender, yet? No, but you can definitely see steps in the right direction.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2013/7/12/4517056/cubs-cardinals-recap-edwin-jackson-anthony-rizzo-mlb-scoresAl Yellon2013-07-11T21:50:02-05:002013-07-11T21:50:02-05:00Overflow Thread 3: Cubs vs. Cardinals, Thu 7/11
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/YcubYGgbh0jvqXiKN0Aik99R_4Q=/0x96:4000x2763/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/16257437/20130710_gav_aw6_030.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>----</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2013/7/11/4500752/overflow-thread-3-cubs-vs-cardinals-thursday-7-11-7-05-ctAl Yellon2013-07-11T21:05:06-05:002013-07-11T21:05:06-05:00Overflow Thread 2: Cubs vs. Cardinals, Thu 7/11
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/MU1Wvfcdo5knyjAyVNBfDxtllMs=/0x333:4000x3000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/16257387/20130710_kdl_aw6_111.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>----</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2013/7/11/4500750/overflow-thread-2-cubs-vs-cardinals-thursday-7-11-7-05-ctAl Yellon2013-07-11T20:05:02-05:002013-07-11T20:05:02-05:00Overflow Thread 1: Cubs vs. Cardinals, Thu 7/11
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/L7lDVCTat-iF4O_OVn8oXbMCYuE=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/16257347/20130710_kdl_aw6_110.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>----</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2013/7/11/4500748/overflow-thread-1-cubs-vs-cardinals-thursday-7-11-7-05-ctAl Yellon2013-07-11T17:00:06-05:002013-07-11T17:00:06-05:00Cubs vs. Cardinals Preview, Thursday 7/11, 7:05 CT
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/nqFYgLXxpcPOheO3Q_Yhrym3nyE=/0x570:3000x2570/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/16257183/20130710_kdl_aw6_055.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Since 2007, these two teams have played each other 100 times (entering tonight's contest). The Cardinals have won 51; the Cubs, 49. That's the way a good rivalry should be.</p> <p>The Cubs begin this series 15 games behind the first-place Cardinals, who enter Thursday's action 21 games over .500, the best record in the major leagues.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, the Cubs have played the Cardinals reasonably well this year. The teams split a pair of games in May at Wrigley; the Cardinals took three of four in St. Louis in June, but since that series ended the Cubs actually have a better record than St. Louis (11-7 to the Cardinals' 8-8).</p>
<p>So I'd expect this series to be competitive, at least; Cubs/Cardinals series always are, no matter where the teams are in the standings. It'd be nice to knock the Cardinals out of first place this weekend, if nothing else.</p>
<p>ICYMI, the Cubs have made yet another bullpen move before tonight's game:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Cubs&src=hash">#Cubs</a> to select contract of RHP <span>Michael Bowden</span> from Iowa and option <span>Brooks Raley</span></p>
— Bruce Miles (@BruceMiles2112) <a href="https://twitter.com/BruceMiles2112/statuses/355420078793179136">July 11, 2013</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p>
<p>"Select the contract" means the Cubs have added the player to the 40-man roster, in case you had not heard that specific language before. The move leaves the Cubs' 40-man roster at 39 players.</p>
<p>Cubs lineup:</p>
<blockquote>
<pre>Valbuena 3B, Castro SS, Rizzo 1B, Soriano LF, Schierholtz RF, Bogusevic CF, Barney 2B, Castillo C, Jackson P</pre>
</blockquote>
<p><span>Brian Bogusevic</span> is back after missing a week with a leg problem. Let's hope no more outfielders get hurt.</p>
<p>Cardinals lineup:</p>
<blockquote>
<pre>Carpenter 2B, Beltran RF, Holliday LF, Craig 1B, Molina C, Freese 3B, Jay CF, Kozma SS, Westbrook P</pre>
</blockquote>
<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" width="680"><tbody>
<tr class="yspsctbg">
<td class="ysptblhdr" align="center" height="18"><center>
<h2><i>Today's Starting Pitchers</i></h2>
</center></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="ysptblbdr2">
<table class="yspwhitebg" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="680"><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="45%">
<a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7241" target="newwindow"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2682615/edwinjackson.jpg" alt="Edwin Jackson" border="1" height="480" width="320"></a><br><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7241" target="newwindow"> </a><center> <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7241" target="newwindow">
<h2>Edwin Jackson</h2>
</a> </center> <br><center>
<h2>Cubs</h2>
</center>
</td>
<td align="center" width="10%">vs.</td>
<td class="yspscores" align="center" width="45%">
<a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6500" target="newwindow"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2585237/jakewestbrook.jpg" alt="Jake Westbrook" border="1" height="480" width="320"></a><br><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/6500" target="newwindow">
<h2>Jake Westbrook</h2>
</a> <br><h2>Cardinals</h2>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="ysptblbdr2" colspan="35">
<spacer type="block" height="1" width="1"></spacer><spacer></spacer>
</td>
</tr>
<tr class="ysprow2" valign="top">
<td class="yspscores" align="center"><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/bvsp?playerId=5842" target="newwindow"><center>
<h2>vs. StL</h2>
</center> </a></td>
<td class="yspscores" align="center">--</td>
<td class="yspscores" align="center"><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/bvsp?playerId=4422" target="newwindow">
<h2>vs. Cubs</h2>
</a></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<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">2013 - <span>Edwin Jackson</span>
</td>
<td>5-10</td>
<td>17</td>
<td>17</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>93.1</td>
<td>105</td>
<td>64</td>
<td>57</td>
<td>9</td>
<td>36</td>
<td>82</td>
<td>5.50</td>
<td class="td-last">1.51</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">2013 - <span>Jake Westbrook</span>
</td>
<td>5-3</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>1</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>68.0</td>
<td>66</td>
<td>26</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>3</td>
<td>26</td>
<td>27</td>
<td>2.78</td>
<td class="td-last">1.35</td>
</tr></tbody>
</table>
</div>
<hr class="widget_boundry_marker">
<p>This game is a pitching rematch of <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN201306190.shtml" target="_blank">the game in St. Louis June 19</a>. Jackson threw well enough until <span>Yadier Molina</span> took him deep in the sixth inning; Westbrook didn't allow an earned run.</p>
<p>Jackson has been decent his last two starts. Westbrook had a good outing in his last start vs. the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fishstripes.com/">Marlins</a>, though he got hit pretty hard in the starts before that against Houston and Oakland.</p>
<p>Not-so-fun fact: Jackson leads the major leagues in wild pitches this year with 11, tied with <span>Trevor Cahill</span>. No one else has more than nine. Jackson led the majors in wild pitches in 2010 with 20.</p>
<p>Today's game is on CSN Chicago.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mediacenter/index.jsp?ymd=20130401#date=7/11/2013">Here is the complete MLB.com Mediacenter for today.</a></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/index.jsp?gid=2013_07_11_slnmlb_chnmlb_1&mode=gameday">MLB.com Gameday</a></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/previews/CHC.shtml">Baseball-reference.com game preview</a></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/mlb/events/118025/pregame">SB Nation game preview</a></p>
<p>Please visit our SB Nation <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> site <a target="_blank" href="http://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Viva el Birdos</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 StoryStreamâ„¢, 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>You will also be able to find the First Pitch Thread and all the overflow threads in the box marked "<a href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">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 StoryStreamâ„¢. 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/2013/7/11/4500634/chicago-cubs-st-louis-cardinals-lineups-preview-thursdayAl Yellon