Game Chat :
BR Preview :
Game Notes
Paul Maholm vs.
Jason Marquis
Lineups:
Morgan CF |
Soriano LF |
McLouth LF |
DeRosa 2B |
Sanchez 2B |
Lee 1B |
LaRoche 1B |
Ramirez 3B |
Nady RF |
Murton RF |
Bautista 3B |
Soto C |
Paulino C |
Monroe CF |
Izturis SS |
Theriot SS |
Maholm P |
Marquis P |
Welcome, everyone, to
Jeff Bennett Day at The Cub Reporter!
In their 2007 annual, the
Baseball Prospectus gang describes Pirates starter Paul Maholm as "a pitch-to-contact, ground-ball lefty."
Sounds like Cub
Kryptonite to me.
The fact is, however, despite having lost to Maholm twice already this season, the Cubs have hit him hard--8 earned runs in 14 1/3 innings, including homers by Ramirez, Pagan, and a
catcher who is now dead to us in a losing cause back on May 10th.
Maholm, who has struggled with some back problems this season, is coming off the worst start of his Major League career, a 15-3 loss to the Astros, in which he was scorched for 10 runs and 11 hits in just 2 2/3 innings.
Overall, Maholm allows lots of hits, but balances that by inducing plenty of double-plays and picking off more than his share of baserunners.
Marquis takes the mound fresh off the honor of being
named probable starter in a game that millions of Cub fans are praying we never have to play. He had two terrific outings, a week apart, against the Bucs in May, before they abused him in early July in a start against Maholm.
Personally, I am happy for the return to day baseball. It allows us to focus all of our attention on the Cubs game and save the scoreboard-watching and ill-wishing for the evening, when the Brewers are playing and if we weren't fixated on MLB Gameday, we would have nothing better to do than spend quality time with our families.
Comments