Game 88 Thread / Cubs @ Cardinals (2 of 3)
Submitted by Rob G. on Sat, 07/05/2008 - 2:00pm
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| SP | *Ted Lilly | SP | Kyle Lohse |
| 9-5, 4.56, 100 K, 38 BB, 106.2 IP | 10-2, 3.67, 50 K, 26 BB, 105.1 IP | ||
| SS | Ryan Theriot | SS | Brendan Ryan |
| RF | *Kosuke Fukudome | CF | *Rick Ankiel |
| 1B | Derrek Lee | 1B | Albert Pujols |
| 3B | Aramis Ramirez | 3B | Troy Glaus |
| CF | *Jim Edmonds | RF | Ryan Ludwick |
| C | Geovany Soto | C | Yadier Molina |
| LF | Mark DeRosa | 2B | *Adam Kennedy |
| 2B | *Mike Fontenot | P | Kyle Lohse |
| P | *Ted Lilly | LF | *Skip Shumaker |
That sure was a much needed win as the Cubs now are assured of going home in first place. Zambrano looked as good as ever and the bullpen, minus a forgivable home run to Albert Pujols, was lights out.
Lou had earlier mentioned wanting to go with two lefties this series as the Cardinals had only managed something-like four wins against southpaws. Their overall splits though don't bear out much of an advantage, a collective .772 OPS vs righties and .776 vs lefties. Lou might be outhinking himself on this one.
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#1 Re: Aramis
0 for last 27?!
oops/ 0 for last 28.
WTF?
#2 Re: Aramis
Its called a slump.
Ever heard of it?
He also has a pretty big reason to have been, and to continue to be, distracted.
#6 Re: Aramis
And a nice way to end the slump though, eh?
#8 Re: Its called a slump. Ever heard of it?
As if ARAM has EVER had a streak like that one.
But, what do you care....
#7 Re: Aramis
Now 1-29. :-)
#3 Re: Game 88 Thread / Cubs @ Cardinals (2 of 3)
Wow... one of the Google ads on the left currently says this:
Seriously? "Salute the Jap?"
Wow.
#4 Re: Game 88 Thread / Cubs @ Cardinals (2 of 3)
I suppose it's better than "Slap the Jap."
Barely.
#5 3 Cubs starters voted in
Soriano, Fukudome, Soto...if the NY Post is to be believed.
http://www.nypost.com/seven/07052008/sports/yankee...
#19 Re: 3 Cubs starters voted in
"Having two starting center fielders from Japan adds a new look to the All-Star Game."
#9 Re: Game 88 Thread / Cubs @ Cardinals (2 of 3)
HGH is more powerful than cybernetics.
#10 Re: Game 88 Thread / Cubs @ Cardinals (2 of 3)
Goddamnit. When will Woody understand that walks will kill you.
#11 Re: Game 88 Thread / Cubs @ Cardinals (2 of 3)
Hey, way to step on their necks.
1st and 3rd no outs off of Franklin, don't score any more runs. That's the key to the game there, in my opinion.
#12 Re: Game 88 Thread / Cubs @ Cardinals (2 of 3)
Tough tough loss. I thought we were home free after Marmol got through the heart of the order. Woody couldn't get the job done. Of course if Edmonds would have scored on the sac fly its maybe a different game. Great throw by Ludwick but it looks like Edmonds just assumed he would get in. Get em tomorrow!
#14 Re: Game 88 Thread / Cubs @ Cardinals (2 of 3)
The Cubs would have won if the 1st base umpire correctly called out Molina on the check swing, or if Pinhead had not drawn in the corners guarding against a bunt with runners on 1st and 2nd and no outs... but well, that's the breaks.
#16 Re: Game 88 Thread / Cubs @ Cardinals (2 of 3)
i think that's one of his "things". seen it a bit, anyway.
yesterday he had aram protecting against the bunt with a guy on 1st and skip s. at bat (of all people to protect against). it was pretty early in the game and aram barely caught a jumping liner playing in on the grass. at least it worked out yesterday.
#13 Re: Game 88 Thread / Cubs @ Cardinals (2 of 3)
I always hate saying things like "the closer was due to blow one", but Wood did have an 0.96 ERA over the last month. He's been absolutely lights out lately.
Can't have it everyday.
#17 Re: Game 88 Thread / Cubs @ Cardinals (2 of 3)
"Can't have it every day."
I'm not sure Wood had it yesterday, when he tried to throw ball four twice to Troy Glaus leading off the ninth in a one-run game. The ump called two outside pitches strikes.
If this is the way our closer performs in big games in St. Louis, that's good to know.
Since Cotts and Marmol were already used, it would help if two bullpen spots weren't occupied by veterans Piniella would never bring in to pitch to Ankiel in that situation. I guess the Cubs will try to trade Wuertz and Eyre in the next three weeks. It can't be too soon.
#22 Re: Game 88 Thread / Cubs @ Cardinals (2 of 3)
Eyre's on the DL, dude. If that's who you were referring to by "veterans Piniella would never bring in to pitch to Ankiel".
Also, apparently the opponent has some effect on the quality of pitches that a pitcher throws. Does that have more or less of an effect than the catcher? If the catcher increases fastballs by 4-5 mph, do the Cardinals cause 6 inches less break on a slider? More? Less?
EDIT - Furthermore, Wood has previously made two scoreless appearances against the Cardinals this season. I fail to see how this denotes some developing pattern.
#34 Re: Game 88 Thread / Cubs @ Cardinals (2 of 3)
My point about Eyre is that Piniella doesn't like to use him when the game is on the line, so the Cubs are always short one lefty.
Of Eyre's 18 appearances this year, the Cubs were behind in 10 of those games at the time he appeared. Of the 8 remaining, in 4 of them they were ahead by 2, 3, 7 and 9 runs when Eyre was brought in. Of the four still remaining, in one of them he came in in the 13th inning of a tie game (5/24). In another (6/10 vs. Atlanta), he came into a close game in the 8th inning (Cubs up 6-5), after Howry had just given up 2 runs, Marmol had pitched the inning before, and Wood was unavailable. Eyre pitched to one batter, then Lieber took over in the 9th. On 5/25, he faced 1 batter in the 8th against Pittsburgh, Cubs up 5-4, and earned a hold. Finally, 6/18 was the game against Tampa where Eyre came in and let 3 of Marmol's runners and 3 of his own score.
So these are the contortions a manager has to go through to use a guy like Eyre, who is on the roster because Hendry was feeling flush in late 2005. If Piniella could pick his own players, the Cubs might have had a lefty to face Ankiel in the 9th inning Saturday.
#35 Re: Game 88 Thread / Cubs @ Cardinals (2 of 3)
"If Piniella could pick his own players, the Cubs might have had a lefty to face Ankiel in the 9th inning Saturday."
that's some pretty open ended blind faith you got there in a guy in a hypothetical role he's never been in.
besides, wood is the closer. if lou cared that much about the splits with 2 outs he'd bring in pretty much any lefty he's got cuz ankiel is pretty solidly a guy who feasts on righties and struggles against lefties with his power at the very least.
and very few if any managers get to pick their own players...
#37 Re: Game 88 Thread / Cubs @ Cardinals (2 of 3)
cuz ankiel is pretty solidly a guy who feasts on righties and struggles against lefties with his power at the very least.
Well... not that much, at least over his "career".
Career splits:
Against RHP: .262/.331/.496 OPS: .827
Against LHP: .261/.303/.490 OPS: .793
The only real difference is that he draws more walks against RHP.
Though this year he has shown a much bigger splits between LHP and RHP, and it is mostly shown in his SLUG.
#36 Re: Game 88 Thread / Cubs @ Cardinals (2 of 3)
If Piniella could pick his own players, the Cubs might have had a lefty to face Ankiel in the 9th inning Saturday.
Wait a minute. So which is it? Does Lou control the rosters? Or Hendry? Because yesterday you said Lou controlled the rosters, and now today you say that Lou can't pick his own players. You cannot have it both ways.
Further... I don't think there is a manager/team in baseball who would have pulled Wood in that situation. Hell... I don't think there are many relief pitchers in baseball that I would trust more than Woody in that situation.
BTW... Kerry Wood has an .596 OPS allowed against RH hitters this year.
But sure... go ahead and blame yesterday's game on Hendry because Scott Eyre is on the DL.
#42 Re: Game 88 Thread / Cubs @ Cardinals (2 of 3)
except Lou would have never pulled Kerry in that situation....otherwise great fucking theory.
#15 Re: Game 88 Thread / Cubs @ Cardinals (2 of 3)
if Pinhead had not drawn in the corners guarding against a bunt with runners on 1st and 2nd and no outs
Pinhead! Ha!!
Mariotti, is that you?
I know what we should all do.... call Ozzie Guillen the "Blizzard of Oz"!!
"Blizzard of Oz"... get it? Funny shit!
Nicknames rule!! High-fives and jagerbombs all around!!
#18 Re: Game 88 Thread / Cubs @ Cardinals (2 of 3)
Well it happens to the best of em and we all know Woody will bounce back strong. Nice to see Marmol get through fine. Let's take 'em tomorrow and make it look easy. No more of these nailbiters.
#20 Re: Game 88 Thread / Cubs @ Cardinals (2 of 3)
The simulator ESPN has give us a 82.6% odds of getting in the playoffs:
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/standings
in other good news to distract us from a bitter loss after tomorrow's game are next 12 are vs. sub 500 teams currently.
#21 Re: Game 88 Thread / Cubs @ Cardinals (2 of 3)
At least first place is safe (for now). If they get a win tomorrow (Earth to Wellemeyer: Come back to me!), they leave St. Louis in the condition I hoped they would. I hate it when the middle game of a series is a loss like this, but I like the idea of cutting Wood some slack and moving on.
#23 Re: Game 88 Thread / Cubs @ Cardinals (2 of 3)
Did anyone hear Paul Sullivan last night on WGN taking shots at Edmonds?
Well, this is how he closed out his game recap today. I personally don't see anything wrong with Edmonds' comments, although it seems Sullivan is going out of his way to imply Edmonds doesn't give a shit about the loss.
"Tough loss," Piniella said.
But not as tough to some as it was to Piniella or Wood.
"They're all tough, obviously," Edmonds said. "Good game. We just came up short. There's a long way to go. It's not the end of the world. We just have to come back [Sunday] and win the series. That's what it's all about."
http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/bas...
#24 Re: Game 88 Thread / Cubs @ Cardinals (2 of 3)
sullivan has a history of bitching about edmonds...even lately while a cub it's not stopped.
he uses some very strong/public language about him to almost anyone that will listen that he doesn't prefer edmonds. i don't think he likes edmonds the man or edmonds the player.
this is the kind of crap that keeps blyleven out of the HOF...not that edmonds has much of a shot or anything...but the whole reporters getting personal with the "people they work with" while being the spokesman to the public about these people. sometimes it makes for some great stories, though. sure makes for some great books.
#25 Re: Game 88 Thread / Cubs @ Cardinals (2 of 3)
The raging alcoholic also ripped Edmonds during the broadcast on WGN last night, saying he was a big hot dog and was still standing at home plate watching his home run. What a tool, there's hardly anyone left with talent at the Trib's sports department anymore.
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