TCR: No Good Will Come of This

Game 128 Thread / Nationals @ Cubs (1 of 3)

Submitted by Cubnut on Fri, 08/22/2008 - 10:42am

Game Chat | Press Pass | BR Preview

SP *John Lannan SP Jason Marquis
  6-12, 3.81, 89 K, 54 W, 141.2 IP
8-7, 4.67, 68 K, 49 W, 129 IP
       
2B #Emilio Bonificio LF Alfonso Soriano
SS #Cristian Guzman SS Ryan Theriot
3B Ryan Zimmerman 1B Derrek Lee
CF Lastings Milledge 3B Aramis Ramirez
1B Ronnie Belliard CF Reed Johnson
RF *Ryan Langerhans C Geovany Soto
LF *Willie Harris RF Mark DeRosa
C Wil Nieves 2B Ronny Cedeno
P *John Lannan P *Jason Marquis

Weather note: As of 12:40, it's pouring in the western suburbs, with storms on their way to the city. Could be a rain delay in our future.

The Cubs advance to the next course in the all-meatball buffet, following their series against the Reds with three against the 45-83 Nationals starting today, before moving on to Pittsburgh.

The Nats flew to Chicago following a Thursday night game in Philadelphia, so on top of being awful, they're surely tired. However, as the cliche goes, the most dangerous animal is a desperate one, so maybe the Cubs should beware. That said, Nick Zaccardi (Carrie Muskat's new nom de plume?) assures us the Cubs aren't taking anything for granted this weekend, so forget what I said about being beware—the Cubs should hammer these guys.

The home team is a perfect 7-0, averaging nearly 8 runs per game, in their last 7 games against southpaw starters. Lannan, however, dominated the Cubs (7 IP, 4 H, 0 ER) in a game Washington won when the teams met in D.C. in late April. Marquis hasn't pitched in nine days, last opening the DH at Atlanta with a winning, 5.1 IP, 2 ER effort against the Braves.

The Cubs begin play with a 5 1/2-game lead over the Brewers.

Finally, one more derogatory note about the Nationals, per the Tribune: with Cristian Guzman recovering from an injury to his left thumb, Washington has started seven different shortstops in the last 22 days.

Focus. We need to focus.

 

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#1 Re: Game 128 Thread / Nationals @ Cubs (1 of 3)

Submitted by Chad on Fri, 08/22/2008 - 11:47am.

So let us get fat on said meatballs. 6 - 3 is acceptable but a sweep would be grand.

#2 Re: Game 128 Thread / Nationals @ Cubs (1 of 3)

Submitted by The Real Neal on Fri, 08/22/2008 - 11:48am.

A four pitch strike out by Soriano
A flare single to right by The Riot
Another DP from Lee?
I'd surely buy it

Reed's single will follow
AramRam's loud out to center
A line out double play by Soto
Well send me on a bender

So, let's ponder DeRosa
Walking ahead of a fielder's choice by Cedeno
Will a Marquis K drive me to drugs
Or will I be able to 'just say no'?

This poem sucks.

#7 Re: Game 128 Thread / Nationals @ Cubs (1 of 3)

Submitted by Ryno on Fri, 08/22/2008 - 12:27pm.

A poetic scouting report. Love it.

#3 Re: Game 128 Thread / Nationals @ Cubs (1 of 3)

Submitted by Q-Ball on Fri, 08/22/2008 - 11:49am.

Mmmmmmm, Meatballs......

Interesting SI article mostly on Samardzija:

http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/artic...

Obviously he has been good for us. Is it too late though to make him a starter next year? He has just the one pitch, but the majors is not the place to work on your secondary offerings.

Then again, Harden is basically fastball/changeup only, so maybe Samardzija can still start later on.

#12 Re: Game 128 Thread / Nationals @ Cubs (1 of 3)

Submitted by Rob G. on Fri, 08/22/2008 - 12:55pm.

the 2nd time I've read this on here from someone that Samardzija is a one-pitch pitcher. I've actually seen most of his outings and he has that 2-seamer that comes back across the plate to a lefty that he can throw mid-nineties, another fastball with more downard movement in the mid 90's and a changeup/splitter that's been pretty useful. He has a slider too, which I haven't seen, but no reason to use it if he's relieving.

Am I missing something? 

#16 Re: Game 128 Thread / Nationals @ Cubs (1 of 3)

Submitted by crunch on Fri, 08/22/2008 - 1:12pm.

he has 2 fastballs unique enough to be considered different pitches.

#19 Re: Game 128 Thread / Nationals @ Cubs (1 of 3)

Submitted by Rob G. on Fri, 08/22/2008 - 1:39pm.

right, that's what I've seen and I know I've seen his change/splitter quite a bit too. He doesn't throw it nearly as much as his fastballs, but he shouldn't.

#45 Re: Game 128 Thread / Nationals @ Cubs (1 of 3)

Submitted by dcf on Fri, 08/22/2008 - 3:14pm.

Agree

Just because he doesn't throw an offspeed pitch or a slider or curve does not mean he is a one pitch pitcher

#61 Re: Game 128 Thread / Nationals @ Cubs (1 of 3)

Submitted by WISCGRAD on Fri, 08/22/2008 - 5:40pm.

Yeah, he mixes it up quite well from what I have seen with him. Also, I've watched most games and I think I've seen 2 sliders so far from him, at least I thought too much side-to-side movement to be his split finger. Overall though, I've been impressed.

#4 Re: Game 128 Thread / Nationals @ Cubs (1 of 3)

Submitted by Indiana JJ on Fri, 08/22/2008 - 11:53am.

Half hour til game time and the tarp is on the field. Can't tell how hard/if it's raining.
http://cubs.truelook.com/face/newface.jsp?func=liv...

#5 Re: Game 128 Thread / Nationals @ Cubs (1 of 3)

Submitted by Chad on Fri, 08/22/2008 - 12:08pm.

http://www.cubworld.com/category/a_cubworld_cam

It's looks pretty rainy out there.

And it don't look like big midwest-over-in-an-hour-storm

pretty gray

#9 Re: Game 128 Thread / Nationals @ Cubs (1 of 3)

Submitted by The Real Neal on Fri, 08/22/2008 - 12:51pm.

Weatherunderground leads me to believe they'll start playing soon.

#13 Re: Game 128 Thread / Nationals @ Cubs (1 of 3)

Submitted by Chad on Fri, 08/22/2008 - 12:57pm.

You don't need a Weatherman to know which way the wind blows.

#6 Re: Game 128 Thread / Nationals @ Cubs (1 of 3)

Submitted by Andy on Fri, 08/22/2008 - 12:17pm.

Cory Provis (or whatever the hell his name is) on WGN says a "bit of a delayed start" today, with light rain falling the past 20 minutes or so.

Also, radar looks like this thing is blowing off to the NE and will clear up in the next, oh, 30 minutes.

#8 Re: Game 128 Thread / Nationals @ Cubs (1 of 3)

Submitted by Ryno on Fri, 08/22/2008 - 12:29pm.

I maintain that this is a better lineup than the Reds lineup. Not saying that it's good by any means, I'm just saying the Reds lineup was wretched.

#10 Re: Game 128 Thread / Nationals @ Cubs (1 of 3)

Submitted by blockhead25 on Fri, 08/22/2008 - 12:51pm.

With a win today, the Cubs will ensure themselves of not ending the year with the worst record in the NL. Silly, pointless, stat...but kinda cool when you think about the fact that it's only 8/22.

#11 Re: Game 128 Thread / Nationals @ Cubs (1 of 3)

Submitted by Mike Vail on Fri, 08/22/2008 - 12:55pm.

Kosuke Fukudome had elbow surgery in the off season last year. Anyone else think that maybe he has a barking elbow at this point in the season? That, and it doesn't look like he's made many adjustments in his approach at the plate. Theories anyone?

#18 Re: Game 128 Thread / Nationals @ Cubs (1 of 3)

Submitted by johann on Fri, 08/22/2008 - 1:27pm.

He's a Japanese player who came to the US and MLB has multiple examples of players who couldn't make the switch. No one should be surprised or anything.

#33 Re: Game 128 Thread / Nationals @ Cubs (1 of 3)

Submitted by VirginiaPhil on Fri, 08/22/2008 - 2:43pm.

I have theories about everything, cooked to order.

I would give Fukudome the benefit of the doubt and just say that he's really a rookie and he's hit a wall. He has never broken out of a slump in the major leagues and he's not convinced he can.

Something similar happened to Fontenot last year, and he didn't start hitting again till spring training.

If Fukudome keeps getting at-bats, he'll break out of it.

I'm trying to think what might prevent Fukudome from getting at bats. Lou doesn't seem to want to compromise the defense with DeRosa in right and Fontenot at second, although that could happen. I'm starting to wonder if Tyler Colvin might get called up, who could play right field. Lou might get intrigued by Colvin's HR and triple power.

#14 Re: Game 128 Thread / Nationals @ Cubs (1 of 3)

Submitted by nohit on Fri, 08/22/2008 - 1:04pm.

Hah! Morgana. Forgot about that...

#15 Re: Game 128 Thread / Nationals @ Cubs (1 of 3)

Submitted by blockhead25 on Fri, 08/22/2008 - 1:08pm.

2:20 start now?

#17 Re: Game 128 Thread / Nationals @ Cubs (1 of 3)

Submitted by big_lowitzki on Fri, 08/22/2008 - 1:13pm.

Yea... WGN said a couple of minutes ago that the game would start "in nine minutes."

#20 Re: Game 128 Thread / Nationals @ Cubs (1 of 3)

Submitted by billybucks on Fri, 08/22/2008 - 1:44pm.

Cubs first run -- double steal?

#21 Just one run in the first?

Submitted by Rob G. on Fri, 08/22/2008 - 1:54pm.

F that!

ridiculous

unexcusable...

burn the place

#23 Re: Just one run in the first?

Submitted by Ryno on Fri, 08/22/2008 - 2:00pm.

What's the problem? This is p-p from Yahoo!

- A. Soriano walked
- R. Theriot struck out swinging, A. Soriano stole second
- D. Lee singled to center, A. Soriano to third
- A. Ramirez struck out swinging, A. Soriano stole home, D. Lee stole second
- R. Johnson grounded out to shortstop

The part that confuses me is... "A. Ramirez struck out swinging, A. Soriano stole home, D. Lee stole second". What? Wild pitch? Passed ball?

#26 Re: Just one run in the first?

Submitted by Doug Dascenzo on Fri, 08/22/2008 - 2:04pm.

Lee stole second and on the throw to second, Fonzie took off from third and beat the throw back from second to home. Safe all around except for Aramis striking out.

Very risky play though, considering how often catchers pump fake the throw to second with a man on third. There was absolutely no hesitation before Soriano took off for home. It looked pretty awesome, but could have very easily resulted in being picked off third base.

#27 Re: Just one run in the first?

Submitted by Timmer on Fri, 08/22/2008 - 2:07pm.

Lee took off for second on the third strike pitch to Ramirez. When the catcher threw to second, Soriano broke for home and scored.

Edit -- sorry, DD beat me to it.

#30 Re: Just one run in the first?

Submitted by Rob G. on Fri, 08/22/2008 - 2:20pm.

I was kidding...it seems if the Cubs don't beat the Nats 36-0, yet manage a close win in there in a well-pitched game, some folks won't be happy.

#31 Re: Just one run in the first?

Submitted by Tito on Fri, 08/22/2008 - 2:25pm.

I was also kidding, based on "no excuses for not beating the Reds" et al...

#24 Re: Just one run in the first?

Submitted by Tito on Fri, 08/22/2008 - 2:02pm.

There is no excuse for not beating this team 72-0 by now.

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