Game 80 Thread / Cubs @ White Sox (1 of 3)

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SP Ryan Dempster SP José Contreras
  9-2, 2.63, 85 K, 38 BB, 102.2 IP
6-6, 3.96, 56 K, 26 BB, 97.2 IP
       
DH *Kosuke Fukudome SS Orlando Cabrera
LF *Eric Patterson C *A.J. Pierzynski
1B Derrek Lee LF Carlos Quentin
3B Aramis Ramirez RF Jermaine Dye
RF *Daryle Ward DH *Jim Thome
CF *Jim Edmonds 3B Joe Crede
C Geovany Soto 1B #Nick Swisher
2B *Mike Fontenot 2B Juan Uribe
SS Ronny Cedeno CF *Dewayne Wise

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's time for Round Two of the Cubs versus White Sox, a.k.a. Team Inferiority Complex.

The Cubs go with a lineup that's long on lefties and rich on suck. Fontenot? Cedeño?? Ward in the field??? Lou is clearly trying to win the game with one hand tied behind his back, thus completely demoralizing the hosts.

Dempster, who yielded just one run (though 10 hits) to beat the White Sox on Sunday night, gets the nod against Contreras, who the Cubs undressed last Saturday (9 ER, 10H allowed in 3.1 innings).

Every drunken lout who stumbles into the park today wearing a CUCK THE FUBS t-shirt will point out that Dempster hasn't won a game away from Wrigley Field. If you're at the game and can stand to get next to the drunk, point out that Dempster, while 0-2 on the road, has a 2.48 road ERA (5th best in the NL), has held road opponents to a measly .194 batting average, and the bullpen has cost him at least a couple victories. I bet that'll shut the lout right up!

Aramis Ramirez, who torched Sox pitching for 4 HR and 8 RBI last weekend, has also enjoyed great success against Contreras: 7-for-14, 4 HR, 10 RBI.

Though U.S. Cellular Field has been one of the homer-happiest parks in the game, when the Cubs swept the home team there last June, they did so by scores of 5-1 (WP: Zambrano), 2-1 (Wuertz), and 3-0 (Marshall).

Presumably, Cub pitchers had no pig-sized rats running through the bullpen to distract them.

Tags: 
Ryan Dempster
Gameday Open Thread
Pig-sized rats
Aramis Ramirez
Submitted by Cubnut on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 12:20pm
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Comments

Submitted by The E-Man
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 1:23pm

What an odd lineup, CUBNUT!

Dome DH-ing at the top?!

Ward in Right?!

Five lefties?

Mike Weaslo - er - Fontenot?

Submitted by Brian
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 1:35pm

I think the bigger oddity is Lou putting Aramis at 1st and D Lee at 3rd...

Submitted by Cubnut
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 1:56pm
Sorry about that. (Wish we could offer you the job of calling out my typos, but Cubster already has the position.)

Submitted by Cubster
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 1:39pm

who is Ronnie Cede 0?

Ronnie Sant 0 is still in the booth, no?

Submitted by jacos
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 1:43pm

Is it true that Lou signed Soto up for the Futures Game, Homerun Derby and Celebrity Softball game for the All Star game?

Submitted by Chad
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 1:51pm

Is this the record for most lefties ever in the cubs lineup?

and i found this elsewhere...

Submitted by Chad
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 1:54pm

we can't post pictures? That blows...

FU Jim Thome!

Submitted by nohit
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 2:48pm

Niiice!

Submitted by Vegas Brian
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 2:00pm

Brandon Inge to the DL in what may be the weirdest situation for an injury yet:

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20...

Submitted by Ryno
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 2:07pm

Odd, Yahoo! Sports has this note on his player page...

Injury Note 15-day DL as of Jun 23, 2008 (Sand in vagina)

Submitted by Ryno
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 2:01pm

Cards are 10 games above 500? Isn't that a bit over their heads? Come on.

Submitted by Chad
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 2:36pm

HAHAHA!

http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/06...

Submitted by nohit
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 2:50pm

Best part of that is the list of charges. :-)

Keep bringin' teh funnay, Chad.

Submitted by nohit
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 3:07pm

I've got a really bad feeling about this series. It's hard for a starter to beat a team in back-to-back outings, and Demp is already suspect on the road. Gallagher is the X-factor. Marshall hasn't shown us anything yet.

The nice thing about having expectations this low is that they have a good chance of being exceeded. :-)

Submitted by Cubster
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 3:18pm

GI-D(P)Lee...methinks I've seen this movie before

Submitted by Jace
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 3:17pm

... And there's MLB-leading GIDP #18....

Submitted by Mitterwald
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 8:47pm

The major league record for a season is 36 by Jim Rice. Lee's on pace. His previous career high was 18 with the Marlins in 2001.

The GIDP in the first inning was tolerable, but the GIDP in the third inning was the biggest play of the game; Contreras was on the ropes after walking the previous two hitters. For an experienced hitter with a nice opposite-field stroke like Lee, he became pull-conscious and hit two grounders to the left side.

(Off the subject, but did anybody listen to the Farmer-and-Stone radio call? Does everything that Steve Stone says sound incredibly arch and sarcastic? I'm as sarcastic as the next guy, but geez ... Still think that Harry was the best broadcast partner that Stoney had or will ever have because Harry reined him in.)

Submitted by Cubnut
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 9:21pm

Yes, Stone is one smug fellow and coupled with Ed Farmer, who tries to be smug but is simply dull...well, that's one tough listen. The other thing I have noticed about Stone is his obsession with predicting the next pitch or predicting the outcome of the at-bat if a certain pitch is thrown. WSCR feeds this with their promo spots to plug the Sox broadcasts. More often than not, they feature Stone forecasting the result of an at-bat—"This guy is a great double-play candidate; if Buerhle keeps the ball down, the Sox are going to turn two..."—followed by a call by Farmer in which Stone's predicted result happens, and Farmer congratulates his partner.

I thought Stone was fine, not brilliant, when he called the Cubs. That ridiculous business with Chip Caray and Kent Mercker and Dusty Baker left Stone with a much inflated sense of self-importance and no job. I think he always fancied himself a GM candidate and/or team owner, neither of those things came to pass, and now he's just a pompous jerk. Another reason to hate the Sox.

Submitted by Tarzan Joe
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 3:20pm

GIDP-Lee does it again. What about trying Edmonds in the 3-hole for awhile? I mean, until Lee proves he should be a 3-hitter again.

Submitted by Tito
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 3:31pm

Dempster's road ERA: 2.48

Not "suspect" at all.

Submitted by jacos
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 4:00pm

Oh boy Dlee.

Submitted by Tarzan Joe
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 4:01pm

Mommy, make it stop.

Submitted by Leningrad Cowboy
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 4:08pm

I haven't been seeing many games lately, but I see a lot of fielding errors from Mr. Patterson. What flavor (drops, bad throws) and how ugly have they been? And is he starting to make Mr. Murton look any better in the field?

Submitted by Tarzan Joe
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 4:16pm

Jermaine Dye steals third base. Jermaine...Dye?? Say goodnight, everybody!

Submitted by jacos
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 4:18pm

Oh boy Ryan Dempster.

Submitted by Tito
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 4:24pm

Oh well, no need to watch this on DVR after work now.

Submitted by Tarzan Joe
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 4:31pm

You're all free to go about your business! Go get 'em tomorrow!

Submitted by Jace
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 4:34pm

Another GIDP for DLee.... He is running away with the MLB lead now!

Submitted by Andrew
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 4:34pm

Back-to-back blowouts. Don't make it a habit, guys.

Submitted by VirginiaPhil
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 4:52pm

Scrappy home run.

Submitted by Andrew
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 5:08pm

Patterson doesn't have any kind of arm for LF.

Submitted by Tito
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 5:12pm

He apparently doesn't have the glove for it, either.

Submitted by Chifan
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 8:23pm

You cant really blame him they want him to play LF in the bigs, but they have him play 2b at AAA. This team has played some crappy defense the last 2 days so its not like he has been the only one.

Submitted by Mitterwald
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 8:36pm

Long-term, I'm more worried about his hitting. He can't hit a good fastball, and when Boone Logan hung a slider on an 0-2 pitch, he fouled it off.

Submitted by dB
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 7:00pm

no worries, Lou said he'll "find someone else to put out there" tomorrow. Might be a Matt Murton sighting tomorrow.

Submitted by Andrew
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 7:26pm

The campaign to stop self-jinxing TCR game previews officially starts today. It could use a good name.

Submitted by Cubster
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 7:55pm

3 run double by Alex Gordon, KC4 Stl 0. End 2.

Submitted by Jackstraw
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 8:32pm

Tomorrow's lineup sucks.

Submitted by crunch
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 9:54pm

cubs using hector carassco as a starter tonite.

Submitted by Cubster
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 9:52pm

Mauer bomb, bottom 8...7-6 Twins

KC 7, Stl 2...Final

nice.

Submitted by skavoovee
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 10:15pm

Any Comments?

Unranked Hitters in the System with MLB experience/no longer prospect/Unranked

1.Felix Pie (CF)
2.Ben Broussard (RF/LF/1B)
3.Jason Dubois (LF/RF)
4.Andres Torres (OF)
5.Sam Fuld (OF)
6.Jake Fox (c,1B,OF)
7.Josh Kroeger (RF/LF)

Top 10 Cubs Hitters Prospects

1. Josh Vitters (3B) - Age 18 2007 3rd Overall Pick 341/378/512 in 41 ABs in Rookie ball.

2. Eric Patterson (2b,OF) - Age 25 2004 8th Round 273/342/394 in the majors. Only time will tell if he can hit major league pitching.

3. Wellington Castillo (C) - Age 21 2004 NDFA 288/332/407 overall and 321/397/554 with 3 HRs in 17 games at Double A.

4. Ryan Flaherty (SS,3B) - Age 21 2008 Supplemental 1st round 263/364/632 in rookie ball through 19 ABs, Career .349 at Vandy with 14 HR is 63 games as in his final year.

5. Tony Thomas (2B) - Age 21 2007 3rd Round 277/327/435 with 6 HR and 12 SB at High A

6. Tyler Colvin (OF) - Age 22 2006 1st round. 237/307/365 at double A. BA 299/SLG 488 last year in 125 games with 16 HR.

7. Josh Harrison (2B) - Age 20 2008 6th round 364/464/500 with 4 SB in 22 ABs at rookie ball

8. Steve Clevenger (C) - Age 22 2006 7th Round 314/408 at High A. He hit 340/378/441 last year.

9. Marquez Smith (2B,3B) - Age 23 2007 8th round. 310/364/505 through 73 games at low A.

10.Luis Bautista (C,1B,DH) - Age 23 2007 32nd round 310/368/558 through 32 games at low A.

11.Rebel Ridling (1B/DH) - Age 22 2008 25th Round 414/471/690 The power speaks for itself.

12.Ryan Harvey (OF) - Age 23 2003 First Round. 240/304/435 overall 270/337/528 at High A. The leash can't be that long.

13.Nate Spears (2b) - Age 23 305/405 at Double A Acquired in the Corey Patterson trade. 6th year of minor league ball.

14.Jovan Rosa (1b,3b) - Age 20 2006 22nd Round 288/357/400 at low A.

15.Ryan Keedy (1B/DH) - Age 22 2008 16th Round 393/484/464 in 9 games at rookie ball

16.Josh Donaldson (c) - Age 22 2007 Supplemental 1st Round. 221/284/366 at low A through 57 games. 335/460/590 last year in 53 games.

17.Joseph Adduci (OF) - Age 23 312/396 at high A. Playing in his 5th minor league season.

Submitted by nohit
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 10:54pm

Three clarifications in case anyone is confused:

1. Eric Patterson is not an outfielder.
2. Derrek Lee is not an All Star this year.
3. Despite today's drubbing, the Cubs are still on a 100-win pace.

I'm not at all surprised to see the boys lose today. The Sox were royally embarrassed last weekend, so they had something to prove today. Plus, it's really difficult for a pitcher to beat the same team in back to back starts.

Now, a prediction:

7 inning quality start from Gallagher tomorrow, followed by Zeus & KW. Cubs win, retaining their amazing streak of not losing 3 in a row.

Sunday scares the hell out of me.

Submitted by Newport
on Sat, 06/28/2008 - 3:31am

"1. Eric Patterson is not an outfielder."

Eric Patterson is not a MLB baseball player. He has the mental capacity of his small older brother......no mucho. Common baseball sense does not run in the family. I've seen a guy named Murton play a better LF. I like what I see from Eric at the plate, but this clown has no business playing in the field on a MLB team at this point. Buy a canoe Eric, you are going back to Iowa.

Submitted by billybucks
on Fri, 06/27/2008 - 11:04pm

Ah, Nohit...Cubs got swept in Tampa...ahem....

Submitted by 10man
on Sat, 06/28/2008 - 3:06am

that's one of those repressed memory due to trauma things

Submitted by carlosrubi
on Sat, 06/28/2008 - 3:11am

We chose to ignore that.

Submitted by nohit
on Sat, 06/28/2008 - 4:59am

Argh! The only thing worse than getting swept is repressing the memory of it and then being reminded...

How the hell did we let that happen, anyway? Yeesh...

Submitted by crunch
on Sat, 06/28/2008 - 6:04am

*points on the doll where Tampa Bay touched him badly*

Submitted by rokfish
on Sat, 06/28/2008 - 8:39am

whatever trade we make this year can we add wuertz to
the mix is he this bad or does he only suck when
i watch.

Submitted by Mike Wellman
on Sat, 06/28/2008 - 9:23am

I may pitch for the I-Cubs today as they play a DH w/ Albuquerque for second straight day...swept last night's w/ Hector Pipo Carrasco making his first start & throwing six shutout innings while fanning 10 in the nightcap [the old guy has only allowed 4 runs in his last 25 innings spread over 13 apps.]- Hoffpauir has homered each of the last two days, Ben Broussard is hitting .200 & pulling down a $3.8M paycheck & the Notre Dame WR is throwing tomorrow afternoon; hope to have a look @ him; hope he's not still a deep threat...Dallas McPherson homered for the 7th straight game - leads pro ball w/ 28 - in the opener for the Isotopes, then sat out the nightcap...

Submitted by Eric S
on Sat, 06/28/2008 - 9:25am

23 year old right handed reliever Richard Parker pitched a scoreless inning last night in his Iowa Cubs debut. Promoted from Peoria -- skipped both Daytona and Tennessee -- maybe on a fast-track to Wrigley?

Submitted by crunch
on Sat, 06/28/2008 - 6:52pm

you mean the catcher richard parker?

geez...he was just drafted a couple years ago and he's pitching already? ...in AAA even? weird.

-edit- nevermind...hey crunch, read the rest of the thread before replying. okay.

Submitted by Cubster
on Sat, 06/28/2008 - 9:33am

More than you'll ever want to read about Stevie Eyre's groin...

This is the first groin injury in his 12-year career.
''It's not the greatest area to ice, by the way,'' he said. ''It's quite chilly. I mean, holy crap.''

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/10296...

also says Fukudome should be ready to play RF today and updates Soriano's latest X-Ray news, Z's news as to pitching vs StL will come sunday.

Submitted by Mike Wellman
on Sat, 06/28/2008 - 9:34am

don't know about a fast track for Parker; think the I-Cubs are just scrambling through a glut of games brought on in wake of Iowa floods; they also called up an INF [Simokaitis] who was hitting .185 @ AA...

Submitted by Mike Wellman
on Sat, 06/28/2008 - 9:36am

also lots of injuries @ Iowa - Pie's thumb, Randy Wells' leg, Hill's psyche, etc.

Submitted by 10man
on Sat, 06/28/2008 - 11:40am

I thought Hill was sent to Arizona... oh wait, yeah Iowa DL

Submitted by Cubster
on Sat, 06/28/2008 - 9:58am

how is Kevin Hart coming along after his concussion?

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Sat, 06/28/2008 - 10:20am

Submitted by Eric S on Sat, 06/28/2008 - 8:25am.

23 year old right handed reliever Richard Parker pitched a scoreless inning last night in his Iowa Cubs debut. Promoted from Peoria -- skipped both Daytona and Tennessee -- maybe on a fast-track to Wrigley?

==================================

ERIC S: Peoria closer Blake Parker was moved up to Iowa because Peoria was the closest Cubs farm team to Des Moines and Iowa needed a pitcher STAT!

Parker is a converted catcher (although he did pitch in HS), and will likely get returned to Peoria (or he might get assigned to Daytona) once he isn't needed any longer at Iowa.

Parker was the EXST Cubs C-1B-DH and clean-up hitter a year ago, and was converted to pitcher the day after he hit a walk-off GS HR.

Like that scene in The Natural where Roy Hobbs is standing on the mound with a baseball and his teammate is standing at home plate, and the teammate says "Show me what you got," and Roy proceeds to throw the ball past the hitter with such velocity that it gets stuck in the screen at the back of the batting cage. That's sort of how it was that Parker got converted to pitcher.

Park was just throwing off the mound for fun at the end of BP at Fitch Park, and Boise pitching coach Tom Pratt saw him and told him to try that again with the radar gun turned on, And he consistently hit 93 with a fastball that moved, and a decent breaking ball to go with it!. So he immediately was asked to give up catching and become a pitcher. And he's been on the fast track ever since.

Submitted by navigator
on Sat, 06/28/2008 - 12:52pm

now that's a gem of a story

Submitted by Dmac
on Sat, 06/28/2008 - 1:09pm

The Cubs one day may have half their pitching staff composed of catchers who'd been converted. I love it, true innovation from an organization that rarely showed any original thinking in the past.

Submitted by Eric S
on Sat, 06/28/2008 - 1:15pm

Thanks for the follow up Arizona Phil and Mike W -- geographic explanation makes sense for sure. Not a bad debut, hope Parker keeps it up! Was surprised to see Simokaitis get the promotion too.

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