Game 76 Thread / White Sox @ Cubs (3 of 3)
Game Chat | Press Pass | BR Preview
SP | Javier Vazquez | SP |
Ryan Dempster |
7-5, 4.13, 93 K, 24 BB, 96 IP |
8-2, 2.76, 81 K, 37 BB, 94.2 IP | ||
SS |
Orlando Cabrera | RF |
*Kosuke Fukudome |
C |
*A.J. Pierzynski |
LF |
*Eric Patterson |
LF |
Carlos Quentin | 1B |
Derrek Lee |
RF |
Jermaine Dye | 3B |
Aramis Ramirez |
1B |
#Nick Swisher |
CF |
*Jim Edmonds |
3B |
Joe Crede |
C |
Geovany Soto |
CF |
*Dewayne Wise | RF |
Mark DeRosa |
2B |
Alexei Ramirez |
SS |
Ryan Theriot |
P |
Javier Vazquez |
P |
Ryan Dempster |
The national ESPN spotlight shines this evening on 1060 West Addison, which can only mean one thing:
The Yankees and Mets aren't playing each other this weekend.
According to the Sun-Times' up-to-the-minute Cubs reports via Twitter, Rob Reiner and his kid are in the house tonight. Could there be any clearer indication what an important contest this is?
Regarding tonight's starters...
Dempster makes his first career start against the White Sox after seven relief appearances (0-1, 3.86 with 3 saves). Vazquez is 3-3 lifetime against the Cubs in 14 starts dating back to his days with the Expos. He is 2-2, 4.80 in ten starts at Wrigley.
This morning on ESPN 1000, former Cub and current Comcast analyst Dan Plesac attributed Dempster's success this year to his ability to throw strikes early in the count and then fall back on his split-finger fastball as an out pitch, especially against lefties. Plesac reasoned that if the White Sox take a bunch of big swings tonight trying to drive the ball out of the park, Dempster could be in for a very successful outing.
If Dempster gets knocked out of the box and the Cubs lose, don't blame me—I'm just quoting Plesac.
But if Dempster makes the Sox look silly tonight, remember, you read it here first.
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