Game 154 Thread / Cardinals @ Cubs (3 of 3)

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SP Braden Looper SP Ryan Dempster
12-13, 4.06, 96 K, 43 BB, 186 IP
16-6, 3.02, 182 K, 75 BB, 196.2 IP
       
CF *Skip Shumaker RF *Kosuke Fukudome
RF Ryan Ludwick SS Ronny Cedeno
1B Albert Pujols LF *Micah Hoffpauir
2B #Felipe Lopez 1B *Darye Ward
3B Troy Glaus 2B *Mike Fontenot
LF Nick Stavinoha CF *Felix Pie
C Jason Larue 3B Casey McGehee
P Braden Looper C #Koyie Hill
SS #Cesar Izturis P Ryan Demspter

 

Nothing like the post-clinch lineup...although you have to feel a little bad for Dempster who is trying to get win number 17 and retake sole possesion of the wins lead on the team. Cubs magic number to secure best record in the NL and homefield advantage is two. A loss by the Philles and Mets and a win by the Cubs would make the season ending road trip mostly irrelevant.

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Ryan Dempster
Gameday Open Thread
Submitted by Rob G. on Sun, 09/21/2008 - 12:54pm
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Comments

Submitted by joebwan
on Sun, 09/21/2008 - 1:00pm

This lineup rocks!

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Sun, 09/21/2008 - 1:12pm

I am sure Dempster is really happy about it too.

Submitted by crunch
on Sun, 09/21/2008 - 1:03pm

my god...i guess everyone was up late partying.

i dunno why im even gonna bother to watch this AAAA game.

only 2 guys...3 if you like cedeno...who should even be playing in a game.

yes...blah blah clinch, but wow...everyone got a day off.

Submitted by Chad
on Sun, 09/21/2008 - 1:13pm

i'm sure they closed the bars last night. good for them.

Submitted by Brick
on Sun, 09/21/2008 - 1:10pm

I had a dream last week that Ronnie Cedeño was trying to kill the Queen of England. He used gasoline to douse the hotel suite where she was staying so he could blow it up later, but he got distracted by a comic book and sat down to read it.

Submitted by Mister Whipple
on Sun, 09/21/2008 - 1:30pm

Your dream means you want to kill your father and sleep with Johann's mother.

Submitted by CA-Phil
on Sun, 09/21/2008 - 2:03pm

lol

Submitted by Mister Whipple
on Sun, 09/21/2008 - 3:05pm

Hey, it could be worse. At least the lineup doesn't look like this:

2B Cairo
SS Gutierrez
3B Coomer
C Hundley
LF White
1B Stairs
CF Matthews
RF Dunwoody

Thanks Biz for the catch.

Submitted by rokfish
on Sun, 09/21/2008 - 1:47pm

wow lou and i do think alike
in previous thread this is
exactly the lineup i put in.

lou does read here

Submitted by crunch
on Sun, 09/21/2008 - 2:24pm

haha rock.

Submitted by Ryno
on Sun, 09/21/2008 - 3:48pm

To all those fans who had tix to Sunday's game and thought there would be a remote chance the Cubs would clinch it before your very eyes...

Eff off, you get a AAA game.

Submitted by Brick
on Sun, 09/21/2008 - 3:56pm

Didn't seem like a horrible AAA game. I wouldn't have minded being there for it.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sun, 09/21/2008 - 3:57pm

Mets losing in the 9th, Phils tied 0-0 in the 2nd.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sun, 09/21/2008 - 3:57pm

doh

was 7-4 Braves, now 7-6 with only one out...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sun, 09/21/2008 - 4:03pm

Mets lose...go Fish. Phils go up 2-0 though in the 3rd.

Submitted by Ryno
on Sun, 09/21/2008 - 4:08pm

This might sound obnoxious and demanding, but I'd like to see one of our talented TCR authors write an article about the state of the NL as it stands now and who the Cubs are likely to see in the playoffs. To be honest I haven't been following the other teams real close.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Sun, 09/21/2008 - 4:28pm

I think the general consensus is that we want the Mets (no dominant starters and really shitty bullpen) and the Brewers (Cubs intimidate them and whoop them at Miller Park, and Sheets may not be ready to go). The Astros and the Phillies have been not very impressed by the Cubs this year.

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Sun, 09/21/2008 - 4:33pm

Mets (no dominant starters and really shitty bullpen)

Well... mark me down as someone who has no interest in the Cubs facing Santana twice in the playoffs.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Sun, 09/21/2008 - 4:57pm

Oh yeah, I actually forgot about him. So one good starter for the Mets. Santanna's not that scary in a short series, though. On the other hand, if you see Moyer and Hamels twice in that short a time frame, odds are you'll get to them too. I think the guys who say 'here it is, try to hit it' are more dangerous than the changeup specialists.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sun, 09/21/2008 - 5:08pm

I was worried about Santana, but he's actually due to pitch Tuesday against us and then Sunday. So that'll give us a look at him and a chance we would only get him once.

Brewers do get Pirates this week, so I'm not counting them completely out.

Phils are defintiely the hot team and post ASG Myers and Hamels is a decent combo with Moyers flinging his crap as well. Good offense and good bullpen too. I think they'll take the East though and we'll face them in the NLCS.

 

Submitted by Andy
on Sun, 09/21/2008 - 7:44pm

Moyers would fit right in at the Primate House.

Submitted by Mister Whipple
on Sun, 09/21/2008 - 5:02pm

If way play anywhere close to our potential there's no reason to think we'd face Santana twice. But yes, facing a pitcher who hasn't given up more than 3 runs in a start since July 17th is a little worrisome.

Eyeballing Phils and Mets offense and pitching post all-star break and in September, there's not a huge difference between the two. The Mets have been pitching and hitting better in September, but the Phillies have won two more games.

Based on how we've played those teams, for the season:
ERA:
Phillies: 3.34
Mets: 6.19

Offense:
vs Mets: .319/.420/.478
vs Phils: .242./.301/.356

Clearly the Phils have been playing very well against us this season. Mind you, the sample size is super small against the Mets until after this upcoming series. Both who we face and how excited we are to see them in the playoffs will be heavily determined by how we play. Regardless, I don't put a ton of stock in how the regular season determines the playoffs. Being healthy, well rested, and in a good mindset will certainly help. All other bets are off.

I don't see the Brewers making the playoffs at this point.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Sun, 09/21/2008 - 5:13pm

Based on last year I wouldn't put the Mess in the playoffs yet.

Important games for the Cubs against the Mets. If they really don't want to see Santana in the playoffs, they should do their best to beat the Mets this week. Santana scheduled for Tuesday, ideally the Mets need him to pitch again on Sunday, final game of the season to clinch the WC and the Cubs won't have to face him until game 2 or 3.

Submitted by Mister Whipple
on Sun, 09/21/2008 - 5:15pm

Same could be said for the Brewers. One of those two teams will be the WC team. Somebody has to back in ass first. Glad it's not us.

Submitted by crunch
on Sun, 09/21/2008 - 4:09pm

fun game...surprisingly.

cubs got a gift run, but in the end it didn't matter.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Sun, 09/21/2008 - 5:05pm

Dempster got his ERA back below 3, throwing 67 pitches. I thought he would go more, but crunch in parachat accurately said 'no more than 5'. Lackey pitching for the Angels in a totally meaningless game throws 110 pitches. Do the Angels know something that the Cubs don't? I think it's a start early to be having them take it that easy. 70 pitches, 70 pitches, but now we need you to throw 110 in a playoff game (unless you want Howry or Smardypants in the 7th of a close game), but you're gassed because you haven't thrown that much in 3 weeks.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sun, 09/21/2008 - 5:10pm

throw him 100 his next game on Friday...he'll still get 4 days rest if he's going Game 1. If he's going Game 2 or 3, then it's not even an issue. I'm guessing holding him back had more to do with celebrating last night.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Sun, 09/21/2008 - 5:19pm

That could be it.

Where the hell do you find the playoff schedule?

Submitted by Mister Whipple
on Sun, 09/21/2008 - 5:36pm

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/schedule/ps.jsp

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Mon, 09/22/2008 - 4:29am

Thanks and thanks Rob G. I looked all over MLB, ESPN, and Foxsports but couldn't find nothin'.

Submitted by Andrew
on Mon, 09/22/2008 - 7:24am

Pat said something last night that Lou had said starters won't be going more than 5 for the rest of the way. I guess I can understand that ... if you want to start the playoffs with an exhausted pen.

Submitted by Charlie
on Mon, 09/22/2008 - 12:34pm

Maybe Marshall will get a game where goes 3-4 out of the pen to build strength in case he's needed as a long reliever in the playoffs. Gaudin could potentially do that too, but we probably need him as a middle reliever/setup man right now.

Submitted by blockhead25
on Mon, 09/22/2008 - 12:52pm

Cubs have a lot of extra bodies in the pen with sepetember call ups. "tired" pullpen is going to be a complete non issue.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Mon, 09/22/2008 - 2:13am

http://deadspin.com/5052813/the-houston-astros-pol...

Submitted by 10man
on Mon, 09/22/2008 - 2:42am

I'd be terribly angry too if I was an Astros fan, but I'm not.

Submitted by John Beasley
on Mon, 09/22/2008 - 9:48am

Be pissed at Bud, and the majority of the blame will always fall on McLane for being greedy and not agreeing to an earlier move to Arlington, Phoenix, Atlanta, etc.

Submitted by Doug Dascenzo
on Mon, 09/22/2008 - 10:22am

The last time I checked, even when you play on the road you should manage to get more than 1 hit in 2 games. What a bunch of pathetic whiners. Instead of accepting that they were horribly outplayed, they blame everyone else.

Submitted by John Beasley
on Mon, 09/22/2008 - 9:55am

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/11769...

Sounds like Chadball is ready to go. Hope he can get back to being the 7th inning bridge.

Submitted by Chad
on Mon, 09/22/2008 - 1:42pm

achem.

Submitted by Jackstraw
on Mon, 09/22/2008 - 11:09am

"Pat said something last night that Lou had said starters won't be going more than 5 for the rest of the way. I guess I can understand that ... if you want to start the playoffs with an exhausted pen."

Not your best comment ever. Cubs have eleven (11) relievers on the roster at the moment. With seven games left and starters going five, that leaves 28 innings (plus extras). I expect Lou will use the time to sort out who's on the postseason roster, and exhaust the other guys. Lou's done this before, I think.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Mon, 09/22/2008 - 12:42pm

When you say "Lou's done this before" do you mean had the best team in the league run out of the playoffs in the first round?

Submitted by WISCGRAD
on Mon, 09/22/2008 - 1:58pm

Are you referring to the Mariner's 2001 season?

I assume so since that is the only year in which Pinella managed a team with the best record in the league.

First, the Mariners made it out of the first round, defeating the Indians 3-2 and then losing to the Yankees in the ALCS 4-1.

But the pitching was not to blame. It was solid, giving up 1, 2, 1, 5, 4, 3, 3, and 3 runs in playoff games. The only time the pitching struggled was when Aaron Sele pitched. In one game the Indians scored 17 and in another the Yankees scored 12.

In 1990 Pinella's team did not have the best record in the league (the Pirates did) but he set a record for leading the division wire-to-wire (first NL team, only other AL team at the time had been the 1984 Tigers). In the NLCS his pitching staff gave up 4, 1, 3, 3, 3, and 1 runs. In the World Series sweep it was 0, 4, 3, and 1.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Mon, 09/22/2008 - 4:25pm

ahh my bad, I remember them gettin their hats handed to them, forgot that it was in the championship series. Either way, they didn't make the world series, despite being the heavy favorites.

Submitted by Andrew
on Mon, 09/22/2008 - 2:42pm

Not your best comment ever.

Wow, thanks, I appreciate you apparently reading and rating all the comments that I make. Out of curiousity, where would you say it falls exactly? At least top half? I wish I could say I do the same for your comments, but frankly, I don't really remember you ever making a comment before.

I agree there are a lot of relievers, and I agree with the strategy of trying to rest starters as needed and in preparation for the playoffs. It just seemed a bit silly to me to stick to a rigid, or at least what I interpreted to be fairly rigid, plan of no more than 5 innings. 11 relievers or not, Lou's going to have use our good guys some and, if I were him, I'd be trying to rest them just as much as the starters, especially considering the recent shakiness of many of them.

Submitted by Jackstraw
on Tue, 09/23/2008 - 11:22am

Two points, Andrew.

One, I was trying to be polite. When I first read your comment I thought it was stupid and showed no real thinking things through. It turns out that's what you felt Lou was doing.

Two, I've been posting on TCR since about the middle of 2003, always under the same name. Much less than I used to.

Cheers-

Submitted by Andrew
on Tue, 09/23/2008 - 2:09pm

Yeah, that's fair enough. My response was probably a bit over the top at that, so cheers to you as well.

I'll note for the record that, unlike Rob G. and crunch, Jackstraw and I resolved our differences amicably and did not result to profanity, name-calling, and mooning.

Submitted by Jackstraw
on Tue, 09/23/2008 - 2:49pm

Copy that.

Of course, it's the end of a stale thread, so nobody knows if/how we resolved it, you (insert profanity) (insert name). Sort of like Mad-Libs.

Submitted by JoePepitone
on Tue, 09/23/2008 - 4:31pm

I (body part) The Cub Reporter.

Submitted by blockhead25
on Mon, 09/22/2008 - 12:50pm

- People here over the last several days have been talking about how the Cubs should use the Game 2 starter in game 5 on regular rest, and have the game 1 starter in the bullpen for games 4&5. I don't understand that logic. In a short series, start your best pitcher in game 1 and in game 5. I don't really know who I trust the most for game 1 and 5, but I don't understand why you would think a different pitcher should be used in the critical game 5 versus the critical game 1?

- Cubs are in a better position then the Angels. Angels are still in a dog fight for the best record in the AL, hence Lackey throwing 110 pitches.

- Why were people so surprised about the lineup yesterday? It's very common to rest virtually all your starters after a clincher if nothing much is at stake. Furthermore, with the Cubs playing games against possible playoff teams this week, that was the only day to give all the players the day off without hurting the so called integrity of the game.

- We should all be rooting for the Brewers and Mets to stay neck and neck to the last game of the season, so both have to use their #1 starter on Sunday who then wouldn't be available until game 2 or 3..and then ultimately have the Mets win out. Dodgers are playing the best ball of any contender this month, so I'd rather take on a struggling Mets team.

Submitted by Chad
on Mon, 09/22/2008 - 1:41pm

i think i have to agree with every thing said here.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Mon, 09/22/2008 - 2:21pm

I think I like the option of possibly using your Game 2 starter in Game 5, that is all. Having your Game 1 starter as a possible bullpen guy in Game 4 or the starter for Game 5 is a nice bonus option.

Dodgers are crap. They're hot streak was against Padres, Pirates, Giants, Rockies and the Dbacks who are playing like shit. They're middle infield consists of Berroa and Blake DeWitt. Furcal is still hurting as is Kent. They're nothing to worry about and will get bounced in the first round again. They just lost two of three to the Giants at home. They'll still clinch because the Dbacks are even worse right now and Dodgers get the Padres and Giants again.

The best way for the race to stay close between Mets, Phils and Brewers is for the Cubs to beat the Mets actually. Take 3 of 4 and hope the Brewers can take 2 of 3 from Pirates.  Then they'll be tied going in the weekend and the earliest either team could clinch would be Saturday, although more likely Sunday.

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