Bleed Cubbie Blue - Cubs vs. Cardinals Friday Game ThreadsA Chicago Cubs Fan Community Since February 9, 2005https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47557/cubbieblue.png2013-08-10T08:00:16-05:00http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/rss/stream/43662792013-08-10T08:00:16-05:002013-08-10T08:00:16-05:00Cubs 3, Cardinals 0: 16 Years In The Making
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<figcaption>Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Friday night, the Cubs put together solid pitching and timely hitting. No, I am not making that up.</p> <p>Go figure, right?</p>
<p>Just one day after the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> played what was probably their worst game of 2013, they play one of their best, <a href="http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/boxscore.jsp?gid=2013_08_09_chnmlb_slnmlb_1" target="_blank">a 3-0 shutout of the likely playoff-bound Cardinals</a>. How rare was that?</p>
<p>It had been 16 years since they last shut out the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.vivaelbirdos.com/">Cardinals</a> in St. Louis, also 3-0, <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN199706230.shtml" target="_blank">on June 23, 1997</a>. The 1997 Cubs weren't very good (and neither were the '97 Cardinals), but they managed to blank their division rivals... and this year's version held a much better edition of the Cardinals scoreless; the 2013 Cardinals entered Friday's game leading the National League in runs scored by a significant margin.</p>
<p>Not only that, but <span>Chris Rusin</span> became the first Cubs lefthander to throw at least six shutout innings in St. Louis since Ken Holtzman did it <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLN/SLN197909192.shtml" target="_blank">September 19, 1979</a>, the final start of Holtzman's career (seven scoreless by Holtzman that day). That speaks, unfortunately, to the lack of good lefthanded pitching the Cubs have had over the last 35 years.</p>
<p>Rusin is starting to look like he might be a keeper. He doesn't have great velocity, but he appears to have learned command and how to keep hitters off balance. Think of him as a <span>Jamie Moyer</span> type; Rusin and Moyer are similar physical types (Rusin's a bit taller) and Moyer, of course, had a long and successful career. I'm not saying Rusin is going to do that, but he certainly looks like he could take over the No. 5 spot in the Cubs' rotation, even for a future contending version of the team.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, <span>Lance Lynn</span> was matching scoreless frames with Rusin until the seventh inning, when the Cubs scored all three of their runs. After Welington Castillo led off with a walk, <span>Starlin Castro</span> bunted. It didn't look like a sacrifice attempt; Castro was at first ruled safe as he dived out of the way of a tag, but the umpires conferred and (apparently) called him out for being out of the baseline. <a href="http://wapc.mlb.com/play?content_id=29562697" target="_blank">Here's the video; you make the call.</a> (My view: could have been called either way. This is why we need replay review.)</p>
<p>That's the kind of play where you think, "Uh-oh. Cubs had a real chance to have a decent inning, and now they're going to blow it." That's where they surprised me, and probably you, by putting together a nice rally even after that call. <span>Darwin Barney</span> walked and <span>Logan Watkins</span> struck out. Two out, and you're feeling even worse about the Castro call.</p>
<p>But Junior Lake broke the scoreless tie with an RBI single, and after <span>Cole Gillespie</span> was hit by a pitch, <span>Anthony Rizzo</span> drove in two runs to give the Cubs a cushion. It was a nicely-done rally, and Rizzo's single was off a lefthander. After hitting lefties well early in the year, Rizzo has struggled against them lately, so that was nice to see.</p>
<p>The Cubs' pen held the Cardinals without a hit and with only one baserunner (a walk) over the last three innings, and Gillespie made a nice catch on a fly ball that looked like it was getting away from him for the final out. Credit where credit is due: Castro also made several nice defensive plays Friday night.</p>
<p><span>Kevin Gregg</span> thus posted his 24th save, one more than he had for the Cubs in his, and the team's, ill-fated 2009 season. With the market for relief pitchers for contending teams seemingly quiet, Gregg is probably going to be a Cub for the rest of 2013; if he gets to 30 saves, now a real possibility, it would be just the 17th 30-save season in Cubs history. Gregg's 47 Cub career saves ranks 10th on the all-time team list; next up is Mitch Williams with 52.</p>
<p>The Cubs might have caught the Cardinals at exactly the right time. St. Louis is in a tailspin, now having lost 12 of their last 16 games. It's not impossible for the Cubs to contemplate a series win. They'll continue Saturday night, with <span>Carlos Villanueva</span> facing <span>Michael Wacha</span>.</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2013/8/10/4608430/cubs-cardinals-recap-chris-rusin-anthony-rizzo-mlb-scoresAl Yellon2013-08-09T22:00:04-05:002013-08-09T22:00:04-05:00Overflow Thread 3: Cubs vs. Cardinals, Friday 8/9
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<figcaption>Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>----</p>
https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2013/8/9/4565510/overflow-thread-3-cubs-vs-cardinals-friday-8-9-7-15-ctAl Yellon2013-08-09T21:15:05-05:002013-08-09T21:15:05-05:00Overflow Thread 2: Cubs vs. Cardinals, Friday 8/9
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<figcaption>Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2013/8/9/4565504/overflow-thread-2-cubs-vs-cardinals-friday-8-9-7-15-ctAl Yellon2013-08-09T20:15:04-05:002013-08-09T20:15:04-05:00Overflow Thread 1: Cubs vs. Cardinals, Friday 8/9
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<figcaption>Hunter Martin</figcaption>
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https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2013/8/9/4565496/overflow-thread-1-cubs-vs-cardinals-friday-8-9-7-15-ctAl Yellon2013-08-09T17:30:07-05:002013-08-09T17:30:07-05:00Cubs vs. Cardinals Preview, Friday 8/9, 7:15 CT
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<figcaption>Hunter Martin</figcaption>
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<p>The Cubs are back to playing a contending team after three games in Philadelphia. That series wasn't good. This one isn't likely to be any better.</p> <p>The Cubs have actually played the Cardinals reasonably well this year; they're 3-3 against St. Louis at Wrigley Field, but lost three of a four-game series at Busch Stadium in June. Two of those losses were close games that were broken up by one swing of the bat. That's what usually happens when good teams play not-good teams.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, the Cubs have at least a chance to put a dent in St. Louis' playoff hopes. The Cardinals' loss to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> Thursday night was their 11th in their last 15 games, although St. Louis just finished a stretch where they played the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.talkingchop.com/">Braves</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bucsdugout.com/">Pirates</a>, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.redreporter.com/">Reds</a> and Dodgers in that order. You can bet the Cardinals will be happy to see a non-contending team visit over the weekend, especially when they are just three games ahead of the Reds for the second wild card spot (although, realistically, the Pirates, Cardinals and Reds are likely all making the playoffs and are going to decide only who wins the division and who hosts the wild-card game).</p>
<p>The Cubs come in at season lows of 14 games under .500 and a -38 run differential. That still leaves them at three games below their Pythagorean projection (53-61).</p>
<p>ICYMI, <a href="http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2013/8/9/4607162/darnell-mcdonald-cubs-roster-move">the Cubs are reportedly going to have a new outfielder</a>, <span>Darnell McDonald</span>, perhaps tomorrow.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/">Cubs</a> lineup:</p>
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<pre>Lake LF, Gillespie RF, Rizzo 1B, DeJesus CF, Murphy 3B, Castillo C, Castro SS, Barney 2B,Rusin P</pre>
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<p>This is the first time <span>David DeJesus</span> has hit cleanup... ever. Insert "other split squad" joke, etc.</p>
<p>Cardinals lineup:</p>
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<pre>Carpenter 2b, Freese 3b, Craig rf, Holliday lf, Adams 1b, Cruz c, Jay cf, Kozma ss, Lynn p</pre>
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<table border="1" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" width="680"><tbody>
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<td class="ysptblhdr" align="center" height="18"><center>
<h2><i>Today's Starting Pitchers</i></h2>
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<td class="ysptblbdr2">
<table class="yspwhitebg" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="680"><tbody>
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<td class="yspscores" align="center" width="45%">
<a target="newwindow" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/9271"><img alt="Chris Rusin" src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2870247/chrisrusin.jpg" border="1" height="480" width="320"></a><br><center> <a target="newwindow" href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/9271">
<h2>Chris Rusin<br>
</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/8650" target="newwindow"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2585253/lancelynn.jpg" alt="Lance Lynn" border="1" height="480" width="320"></a><br><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/8650" target="newwindow">
<h2>Lance Lynn</h2>
</a> <br><h2>Cardinals</h2>
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<td class="yspscores" align="center"><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/bvsp?playerId=31987" 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=30820" target="newwindow">
<h2>vs. Cubs</h2>
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<div class="pane sports_data_widget player_stats clearfix">
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<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>
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<tbody><tr>
<td class="td-name td-first">2013 - <span>Chris Rusin</span>
</td>
<td>1-1</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>4</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>20.1</td>
<td>18</td>
<td>9</td>
<td>9</td>
<td>2</td>
<td>7</td>
<td>13</td>
<td>3.98</td>
<td class="td-last">1.23</td>
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<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>Lance Lynn</span>
</td>
<td>13-5</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>23</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>0</td>
<td>143.0</td>
<td>124</td>
<td>60</td>
<td>60</td>
<td>8</td>
<td>52</td>
<td>140</td>
<td>3.78</td>
<td class="td-last">1.23</td>
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<p>Chris Rusin has pitched... decently enough since his recall. The ellipse is there because a couple of his starts have been bad, but the others have been pretty good. He has never faced the Cardinals nor anyone on their roster. You know what usually happens when the Cubs face a pitcher like that. Maybe it'll work the same for the Cardinals.</p>
<p>Lance Lynn is having almost exactly the year he had in 2012 -- a good start, a rough stretch, then recovering his previous level. The Cubs hit him hard <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN201307130.shtml" target="_blank">July 13 at Wrigley Field</a>, including two home runs. However! Both of those homers were hit by players not on the current roster (<span>Alfonso Soriano</span>, traded; <span>Luis Valbuena</span>, DL). In four starts since that game, Lynn has a 2.77 ERA and only one HR allowed in 26 innings. We're probably doomed.</p>
<p>Today's game is on WGN.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://mlb.mlb.com/mediacenter/index.jsp?ymd=20130401#date=8/9/2013">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_08_09_chnmlb_slnmlb_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/118371/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/2013/8/9/4562778/chicago-cubs-st-louis-cardinals-lineups-preview-fridayAl Yellon