TCR: No Good Will Come of This

Game 2 NLDS / Dodgers @ Cubs

Submitted by Cubnut on Thu, 10/02/2008 - 6:45pm

 

SP Chad Billingsley   SP Carlos Zambrano
  16-10, 3.14, 201 K, 80 BB, 200.2 IP   2008   14-6, 3.91, 130 K, 72 BB, 188.2 IP
  0-0, 0.00, 3 K, 0 BB, 2 IP Post   0-1, 4.37, 20 K, 6 BB, 22.2 IP
         
SS #Rafael Furcal   LF Alfonso Soriano
C Russell Martin   SS Ryan Theriot
LF Manny Ramirez   1B Derrek Lee
RF *Andre Ethier   3B Aramis Ramirez
1B *James Loney   2B Mark DeRosa
CF Matt Kemp   CF *Jim Edmonds
2B *Blake DeWitt   C Geovany Soto
3B Casey Blake   RF *Kosuke Fukudome
P Chad Billingsley   P #Carlos Zambrano

 

It has taken a good 21 hours of self pity and a bracing White Sox defeat to clear my head and even let me think about previewing Game Two.

Yes, last night went down harsh, but from reading Rob's post and many of the ensuing comments earlier this afternoon, it is clear that there are still some optimistic souls in Cubdom. All I can say is, God bless you all.

 

Starters' Records Since 8/1/08

    W  
 L   
IP   
 H/9  
 K/9  
 BB/9  
 ERA  
 HR/9  
 No-Hitters Thrown
Billingsley 5 1 62 10.2 8.1 3.5 3.34 .73 0
Zambrano 2 2 47 8.6 6.5 5.0 7.28 1.80 1

 

Billingsley pitched twice against the Cubs this season. On both occasions, he matched up with Ryan Dempster. Once, Billingsley threw well (7 K, 2 ER in 6 IP); the other time, he threw not as well. The Cubs won both contests.

Among Cub hitters, only Jim Edmonds has more than 10 career plate appearances against the 23-year-old Billingsley, though Fukudome, Lee, and DeRosa have all tagged him for homers.

Zambrano, meanwhile, pitched twice against the Dodgers in 2008. In the series the Cubs swept at Wrigley, he held L.A. to a single run over eight innings, but was only spared a loss when the Cubs pushed across a run in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game, 1-1, before winning 2-1 in ten innings. Then in June, in L.A., Z was rocked for 7 runs and 13 hits in 6.2 IP as he took what was then just his second loss of the season. Five Dodgers had two or more hits that day, but Russell Martin was the chief trouble-maker, connecting for three hits, including a long homer.

Career-wise, Martin (8-for-13, 1513 OPS) and Andre Ethier (1038 OPS in 14 PA's) have battered Zambrano in limited exposure. Manny Ramirez faced Zambrano in 3 AB's when the Red Sox visited Wrigley in '05, and Carlos fanned him twice.

Do I need to point out that the Cubs have now lost seven post-season games in a row—a new franchise post-season futility record— and are 0-4 in post-season play under Piniella? No, I didn't think I did.

Finally, if it has ever occurred to you that divine intervention might get the Cubs to a World Series, you can forget it. Turns out this is all a big joke to Him.

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#1 Re: Game 2 NLDS / Dodgers @ Cubs

Submitted by CT_Steve on Thu, 10/02/2008 - 6:51pm.

Anyone up for a VP debate parachat--starting at 9:00?

#2 Re: Game 2 NLDS / Dodgers @ Cubs

Submitted by crunch on Thu, 10/02/2008 - 8:15pm.

how about that D?

wow...now THAT is a lack of execution.

wow...just wow.

#3 Re: Game 2 NLDS / Dodgers @ Cubs

Submitted by Jeff_Pico on Thu, 10/02/2008 - 8:18pm.

OK now this IS a choke job there is no other way to describe it.

#4 Re: Game 2 NLDS / Dodgers @ Cubs

Submitted by Charlie on Thu, 10/02/2008 - 8:19pm.

I tuned into TBS hoping to watch the team with the best record in the NL this year. What the fuck is this shit?

#5 Re: Game 2 NLDS / Dodgers @ Cubs

Submitted by eli18 on Thu, 10/02/2008 - 8:20pm.

Chokers Roll Call:

Theriot - here
DeRosa - here
Lee - here

poor Zambrano.

#6 Re: Game 2 NLDS / Dodgers @ Cubs

Submitted by mannytrillo on Thu, 10/02/2008 - 8:20pm.

An absolute EMBARRASSMENT!!!!!!!!!

Should be three errors as Theriot's play was an error. Theriot can't get runner over. What a joke!!!!

I am actually embarrassed to go to work tomorrow with people knowing I am a Cubs fan.

Maybe Year 101 is our year...

#7 Re: Game 2 NLDS / Dodgers @ Cubs

Submitted by Eric S on Thu, 10/02/2008 - 8:21pm.

Just disgusting.

And please don't tell me it's all about luck -- this is a classic choke job.

#8 Re: Game 2 NLDS / Dodgers @ Cubs

Submitted by rokfish on Thu, 10/02/2008 - 8:21pm.

oh shit pressure is getting to them all ready

#9 Re: Game 2 NLDS / Dodgers @ Cubs

Submitted by Eric S on Thu, 10/02/2008 - 8:24pm.

What's Theriot doing not at least trying to run to first on his strikeout in the first that got away from Martin. I thought he was all about the intangibles and grit. I demand his SCRAP card be revoked.

#10 Re: Game 2 NLDS / Dodgers @ Cubs

Submitted by mannytrillo on Thu, 10/02/2008 - 8:25pm.

I said earlier today, the Dodgers can now play loose and the Cubs will likely be tight. But I don't think anyone thought they would be this tight. They looked scared.

#11 Re: Game 2 NLDS / Dodgers @ Cubs

Submitted by rokfish on Thu, 10/02/2008 - 8:26pm.

are next hit will come from zambrano

#12 Re: Game 2 NLDS / Dodgers @ Cubs

Submitted by MikeC on Thu, 10/02/2008 - 8:28pm.

What a pathetic series of defense for the Cubs that inning. I am surprised Z didnt murder each one them. He pitched a damn good inning giving his defense easy plays and comes out of it down by 5 runs. Un-fucking-real.

#13 Re: Game 2 NLDS / Dodgers @ Cubs

Submitted by MikeC on Thu, 10/02/2008 - 8:30pm.

I just noticed manny appeared in this thread. Only comes around when the Cubs do poorly. What a fucking tool.

#14 Re: Game 2 NLDS / Dodgers @ Cubs

Submitted by Eric S on Thu, 10/02/2008 - 8:33pm.

Somewhere out there in the world, Alex Gonzalez is thinking "been there, done that"

#15 Re: Game 2 NLDS / Dodgers @ Cubs

Submitted by eli18 on Thu, 10/02/2008 - 8:33pm.

even for the chicago cubs, this is special. usually, it's just one guy who costs them.

plenty of gagging to go around tonight.

#16 Re: Game 2 NLDS / Dodgers @ Cubs

Submitted by Rudiger on Thu, 10/02/2008 - 8:40pm.

An outfielder in the game largely for his defense isn't appropriate down five runs in a must-win game; pinch hit for Kosuke Fukudome his next at bat.

#17 Re: Game 2 NLDS / Dodgers @ Cubs

Submitted by Charlie on Thu, 10/02/2008 - 8:44pm.

With ?

#20 Re: Game 2 NLDS / Dodgers @ Cubs

Submitted by Rudiger on Thu, 10/02/2008 - 8:49pm.

Fontenot; move DeRosa to right field. Or Reed Johnson. He has played right this year? Well the Cubs have been down five runs in a must-win game this year. Fukudome is a bad baseball player

#18 I'm no longer

Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 10/02/2008 - 8:44pm.

strangely confident....

#22 Re: I'm no longer

Submitted by mannytrillo on Thu, 10/02/2008 - 9:00pm.

I give you lots of credit. You lasted much longer than I.

#19 Re: Game 2 NLDS / Dodgers @ Cubs

Submitted by twcoffee on Thu, 10/02/2008 - 8:49pm.

THis game has sickened me so far.. I had to step away for now

#21 Re: Game 2 NLDS / Dodgers @ Cubs

Submitted by Bleeding Blue on Thu, 10/02/2008 - 8:50pm.

The 2nd inning was like reliving the 8th inning of Game 6.

#23 Re: Game 2 NLDS / Dodgers @ Cubs

Submitted by Chris on Thu, 10/02/2008 - 9:02pm.

I thought the Cubs would shit the bed tonight and REALLY wanted to be wrong. I could have never imagined this is how it would go down. I figured Z would melt down...not the entire infield. Everyone of those fuckers have gotten into this shit act.

Can this be considered any thing other than a choke job?

#24 Re: Game 2 NLDS / Dodgers @ Cubs

Submitted by mannytrillo on Thu, 10/02/2008 - 9:05pm.

Man, I wish we had a stud baseball player who could perform in the clutch like Manny. He is amazing!!

#27 Re: Game 2 NLDS / Dodgers @ Cubs

Submitted by Bleeding Blue on Thu, 10/02/2008 - 9:09pm.

Nothing against Mr. Ramirez, but how "clutch" is it really to hit home runs with a 5 run lead against a team that looks completely defeated?

This series he's shown that he's great at piling on, but just hasn't been in clutch situations.

#34 Re: Game 2 NLDS / Dodgers @ Cubs

Submitted by mannytrillo on Thu, 10/02/2008 - 9:28pm.

Good point BB, he did hit a HR today with a 5-run lead, but last night he hit the HR with only a 4-2 lead. And while it might not have been a "pressure situation" today, hitting well in the postseason is pretty impressive considering the stakes. But that still doesn't take away the fact I wish we had a stud player like him.

#55 Re: Game 2 NLDS / Dodgers @ Cubs

Submitted by Doug Dascenzo on Fri, 10/03/2008 - 9:30am.

I'd say the all-time leader in postseason home runs is probably pretty clutch, and I think it all stems from how he appears completely indifferent in every situation. It could be the 3rd inning of a Spring Training game or the bottom of the 9th in game 7 of the World Series and his demeanor appears exactly the same.

I can't say the same for the swinging-out-of-their-shoes Cubs.

#56 Re: Game 2 NLDS / Dodgers @ Cubs

Submitted by Bleeding Blue on Fri, 10/03/2008 - 12:55pm.

I wasn't saying that he is or isn't clutch overall, I'm just saying the situations where he's gone deep in this series haven't been what I would call clutch situations. In both situations, he hit them against a Cubs team that had already called it quits for the night.

I'm not saying that if he is in a clutch situation he won't come through, just that he hasn't gone long against the cubs in a clutch situation yet.

#25 Re: Game 2 NLDS / Dodgers @ Cubs

Submitted by Charlie on Thu, 10/02/2008 - 9:07pm.

This game has been so bad so far that I'm afraid I might shit MY bed tonight.

#26 Re: Game 2 NLDS / Dodgers @ Cubs

Submitted by mannytrillo on Thu, 10/02/2008 - 9:09pm.

Now our catcher can't even throw the ball back to the pitcher. Wow!

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