Game 104 Thread / Marlins @ Cubs (3 of 4)
| SP | Chris Volstad | SP | Rich Harden |
| 2-1, 2.16, 9 K, 6 BB, 16.2 IP | 5-2, 2.12, 112 K, 36 BB, 89.1 IP | ||
| SS | Hanley Ramirez | LF | Alfonso Soriano |
| RF | *Jeremy Hermida | SS | Ryan Theriot |
| 3B | Jorge Cantu | 1B | Derrek Lee |
| 1B | *Mike Jacobs | 3B | Aramis Ramirez |
| 2B | Dan Uggla | 2B | *Mike Fontenot |
| LF | Josh Willingham | RF | Mark DeRosa |
| C | *John Baker | C | Geovany Soto |
| CF | #Alfredo Amezaga | CF | *Kosuke Fukudome |
| P | Chris Volstad | P | *Rich Harden |
Rise and shine, Cubbies. A 12:05 day game in Chicago sees Rich Harden looking for his first win as a Cub, the Cubs looking for reliable offense, and fans looking to maintain bragging rights over the charging Brewers. That's three more uses of the verb "looking" than I'd make if I wasn't rusty from yet another long hiatus.
Who is John Baker?
The biggest pregame news has to be Fontenot's promotion and Fukudome's demotion. This is by my quick count the second time this season Fukudome started a game in center, the first time Fontenot has started the game hitting fifth, likewise for Fukudome hitting eighth.
Harden faced the Marlins on June 20th of this year, giving up a run, 2 BB and 5 K in 5.2 IP for a no decision. Volstad has never faced the Cubs. Drafted 16th overall in 2005, Sickles had him rated as the fourth best Marlin prospect coming in to 2008 with a "B" grading. How someone 6 foot 7 can be a ground-ball pitcher is beyond me, but Volstad is. Fan Graphs also tells us that at the moment he's a two-pitch pitcher: 90 mph fastball and 79 mph curve, with the infreqent change-up as well.
Random Fantasy Question: Over the course of this season I traded Dan Uggla for Ted Lilly and then Lilly for Ryan Theriot. Which of the three would you most want on your fantasy team?
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#1 Re: Game 104 Thread / Marlins @ Cubs (3 of 4)
Uggla.
Go Cubbies.
#2 Re: Game 104 Thread / Marlins @ Cubs (3 of 4)
Theodore Roosevelt Lilly.
Go Cubbies.
#3 Re: Game 104 Thread / Marlins @ Cubs (3 of 4)
Over/Under on Harden's K's today is set at 10.
#4 Re: Game 104 Thread / Marlins @ Cubs (3 of 4)
And I'm taking the Over.
#5 Trade stuff
Casey Blake to the Dodgers for RHP Jon Meloan and C Carlos Santana
NY Post says Marte, Nady deal will be Jose Tabata, Daniel McCutchen, Jeff Karstens and Ross Ohlendorf.
#6 Re: Game 104 Thread / Marlins @ Cubs (3 of 4)
"injury delay"
wha'appen?
#7 Re: Game 104 Thread / Marlins @ Cubs (3 of 4)
Home plate umpire took a fastball directly off his chin. The catcher didn't even deflect it... He had to leave the game.
#8 Re: Game 104 Thread / Marlins @ Cubs (3 of 4)
The biggest pregame news has to be Fontenot's promotion
Aramis Ramirez needs protection. If you insist on batting .900 you're gonna fill the five.
and Fukudome's demotion.
If you're gonna make great catches and hit like Felix Pie you're gonna play centerfield and bat 8.
#9 Re: Game 104 Thread / Marlins @ Cubs (3 of 4)
The Cubs have someone batting 900?
Damn.
And protection is, for the most part, a load of crap.
AND... going into today's game, Kosuke had reached base in 7 of his previous 14 at-bats. While I understand demoting/moving down a guy who is struggling, I don't understand demoting/moving down a guy AFTER he seems to be coming out of his slump.
And of course... he has reached base in each of his first two at-bats today.
#11 Re: Game 104 Thread / Marlins @ Cubs (3 of 4)
ftr, Mike Fontenot was the only Cub with a .900 OPS and that's in danger.
Felix Fukudome in July .185 .274 .277 .551
#29 Re: Game 104 Thread / Marlins @ Cubs (3 of 4)
Well... I would bet money that Fontenot will not end up with an OPS over .900. And FWIW... Edmonds is also over .900, at least a Cubs.
And of course... most people would consider the fact that Fontenot would not qualify.
But I am sure that you know that already.
#10 Re: Game 104 Thread / Marlins @ Cubs (3 of 4)
And I'm taking the Over.
Good call.
#12 Re: Game 104 Thread / Marlins @ Cubs (3 of 4)
Whoops, I guess it was a push.
I'm not watching the game, only following it online, so -- why take Harden out after 5 innings and only 87 pitches? His line (10 Ks, 2 H, 3 BB) was pretty good.
#24 Re: Game 104 Thread / Marlins @ Cubs (3 of 4)
I think because he threw 112 last game.
#32 Re: Game 104 Thread / Marlins @ Cubs (3 of 4)
112!? Wow, I don't know how he was able to even get out there today.
Z averages at least 112.
Harden has to be able to throw more pitches if he's gonna help, especially considering all the pitches he racks up getting all those strikeouts.
#45 Re: Game 104 Thread / Marlins @ Cubs (3 of 4)
maybe you're thinking of a different Rich Harden that hasn't spent most of his first 6 years on the disabled list.
A little caution is a smart move right now...the season doesn't end on July 31st or anything.
#13 Re: Game 104 Thread / Marlins @ Cubs (3 of 4)
So with what we've seen since the big trades, I have a legit question. Would you rather have a pitcher who goes 5-6 innings and gives up 1 run or 8-9 innings and gives up 3-4 runs.
I guess it depends on the bullpens, so let's say the bullpens are the Cubs and the Brewers...
#14 Re: Game 104 Thread / Marlins @ Cubs (3 of 4)
What the hell did the Cubs do to Jeremy Hermida?
#15 Re: Game 104 Thread / Marlins @ Cubs (3 of 4)
I'd want 1. Uggla 2. Theriot 3. Lilly
#16 Re: Game 104 Thread / Marlins @ Cubs (3 of 4)
Uggla for sure.
The Bayou boys are playing well in the heat. I wonder what the Cubs record would have w/o Soriano if Theroit wasn't playing as he was. It's nice to see.
#17 Re: Game 104 Thread / Marlins @ Cubs (3 of 4)
so sick of this brand of baseball
#18 Re: Game 104 Thread / Marlins @ Cubs (3 of 4)
Can't win in Houston.
Can't beat Randy Johnson.
Can't beat the Marlins.
Can't hit a HR with a man on base.
Can't hit anything with runners in scoring position.
Can't win at home with Dempster and Harden starting, each giving up one run.
Scary stuff. The Summer of Joy has taken an ugly turn.
Last 7 of the year are in NY and MIL -- Cubs unlikey to win more than 2 of the last 7 -- better start winning some home games, boys.
#19 Re: Game 104 Thread / Marlins @ Cubs (3 of 4)
Hey, at least Soriano is back.
#20 Re: Game 104 Thread / Marlins @ Cubs (3 of 4)
One other good thing --
Howry had the day off, so he can come in and lose tomorrow's game in the 9th.
They need to start hitting quickly -- if they get their butts kicked in Milwaukee next week, then can't win with a ton of home games in August, the road-heavy September schedule will probaly be too much to overcome.
#22 I am going to on a bold ledge and predict
that we wont hit this way the rest of the year. Not only is August filled with home games, but they are home games aganist some bad teams.
#23 Re: I am going to on a bold ledge and predict
What's a "bold ledge"?
I'm with you, Chifan, just frustrated.
#48 Re: I am going to on a bold ledge and predict
I meant a bold step onto the ledge.
#21 Rotoworld is reporting that Epstein just said Manram
is on the block. If Jimbo was smart he would offer up Soriano and a solid prospect for Manram without taking a look at their contracts, I'd say it save the Cubs 80 million throught the course of their contracts.
#25 Re: Rotoworld is reporting that Epstein just said Manram
If Jimbo was smart he would offer up Soriano and a solid prospect for
Manram without taking a look at their contracts, I'd say it save the
Cubs 80 million throught the course of their contracts.
speaking of jumping off the ledge...wow.
Soriano has an NTC anyway...but if the Red Sox want to deal Manny while being one of the better teams in the AL, you know there's some serious behind-the-scenes problems going on...
#49 Re: Rotoworld is reporting that Epstein just said Manram
Manny's issue is he wants 2 option years at 20 mil per picked up and since Theo hasnt yet Manny's being TO. If we did in an unlikely scenerio trade for him and picked up the options he would be fine. Id rather have Manram at 2/40 then Soriano at 6/106 (could be a little more if the signing bonus is spread out and not dispursed fully when when he signed.)
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