Cubs vs. Brewers to the DEATH!

We have the big holiday weekend coming up and the big four-game series to go with it. The Milwaukee Brewers lead the NL Central by a game over the St. Louis Cardinals and 3.5 up on our Cubs. The Brewers are fourth in the NL in runs scored...the Cubs 15th. On the flip side, they are 10th in Runs Allowed and the Cubs are third. As the saying goes, something has to give...

As you'd expect, the pitching matchups favor the Cubs the entire weekend - Seth McClung versus Dempster tonight,  Suppan vs Zambrano tomorrow, Looper vs. Harden on Saturday and Mike Burns vs. Ted Lilly to close the series on Sunday. 

Soriano will sit again tonight, but will be back at the top of the lineup tomorrow. Reed Johnson and Aramis Ramirez start a rehab assignment in Peoria tomorrow and should be joined by Angel Guzman in rejoining the team on Monday.

Tonight's lineup: Fuld (LF), Theriot, Lee, Bradley, Fox, Fukudome, Soto, Fontenot and Dempster.

Go Cubs! 

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Game preview
Submitted by Rob G. on Thu, 07/02/2009 - 5:11pm
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Comments

Submitted by Chad
on Thu, 07/02/2009 - 6:11pm

the bees have staged their own flashmob.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 07/02/2009 - 6:13pm

and the Brewers offense has been slumping..

After going more than two months without being shut out, the Milwaukee Brewers have been blanked twice in the last four days.

Submitted by Chad
on Thu, 07/02/2009 - 6:17pm

is there a better example of feast or famine in all of baseball?

Submitted by Andrew
on Thu, 07/02/2009 - 7:03pm

Jake Fox?

Submitted by 10man
on Fri, 07/03/2009 - 8:31am

Soriano

Submitted by John Beasley
on Thu, 07/02/2009 - 6:37pm

The last 11 before the break at home ... 4 vs. MIL, 4 vs. STL.

Now would be a neat time to get some hot bats.

Submitted by Ryno
on Thu, 07/02/2009 - 6:43pm

No Baker?

Submitted by Ryno
on Thu, 07/02/2009 - 6:43pm

Just kidding.

Submitted by Jeff_Pico
on Thu, 07/02/2009 - 7:14pm

Yes I think this is do or die for this team, well maybe not they could kind of split the games before the all-star break and basically be in the same position they are now, but if they want to make a move upward NOW is the time. Of course it could all go terribly wrong if they lose 9 out of 11 or something.

Submitted by Fireball
on Thu, 07/02/2009 - 7:32pm

What's the sound of 200 pounds of shit hitting the fan? MCCLUNG.

DLee and The Hammer have already crushed homers in the first, 4-0.

Submitted by jacos
on Thu, 07/02/2009 - 9:56pm

Mr Hands approve.

RIP

Submitted by The Joe
on Thu, 07/02/2009 - 10:00pm

Mr Hands are helping me celebrate this win...

Submitted by Ryno
on Thu, 07/02/2009 - 11:46pm

You know you're a true Cub fan when...

Submitted by crunch
on Thu, 07/02/2009 - 9:57pm

haven't been this happy to hear "go cubs go" in a while.

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Thu, 07/02/2009 - 9:58pm

Damn... to bad the Cubs didn't trade, or bench, or release Lee.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 07/02/2009 - 9:58pm

Undefeated in July....

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 07/02/2009 - 11:41pm

June swoon, July fly?

Submitted by Ahone Ahtwo Ahthree
on Thu, 07/02/2009 - 10:00pm

I can't believe I'm Chad's lover!

Submitted by The E-Man
on Thu, 07/02/2009 - 10:23pm

Just watched CSN-Lou press conference. I heard him (and THIS IS NOT A QUOTE REAL NEAL) not really commit to not having Fuld in the game tomorrow.

Apparently Soriano will start, but Lou is enjoying Fuld's small sample size so far.

Nice to have a leadoff guy get on base with a 9-pitch sequence (then scoring) and play excellent LF.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 07/02/2009 - 11:43pm

Soriano just not helping the team.

Soriano has plenty of nine-pitch sequences. It just takes him three plate appearances to do so.

Submitted by springs
on Fri, 07/03/2009 - 10:36am

:) So true.

I believe that Soriano may be the key though -- do you think we can win and advance in the playoffs with Soriano hitting at this level? I hope so (as I may not have too much faith in Soriano) but am not sure.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Fri, 07/03/2009 - 11:01am

It will very difficult for any team to do anything in the playoffs with their left fielder batting .175 and striking out in half his at bats.

Submitted by Ryno
on Thu, 07/02/2009 - 11:49pm

He's been really fun to watch so far, and it's too bad Soriano will probably get the start tomorrow... but that's probably the right move.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 07/02/2009 - 11:53pm

Well Fuld can play all three outfield spots. Bench Fukudome or Bradley, bat Fuld leadoff and move Soriano someplace hopefully useful for a game or two.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 07/03/2009 - 9:24am

move Soriano someplace hopefully useful for a game or two.

the bench?

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Fri, 07/03/2009 - 9:33am

I am operating under the theory we're just not going to flush $90 million down the drain at this point.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Thu, 07/02/2009 - 10:41pm

Cotts has TJ surgery?!

Did anyone post this before?

Anyway - I just noticed Cotts had surgery yesterday in Cinci with the famous Dr. Kremcheck...

Submitted by rokfish
on Thu, 07/02/2009 - 11:29pm

He is f--ked
same dr who did wood

Submitted by Rob G.
on Thu, 07/02/2009 - 11:33pm

until Tuesday for those that seem to care way too much about that.

Submitted by Ryno
on Thu, 07/02/2009 - 11:41pm

THIS team, Chicago Cubs 2009 is currently 2.5 games out. Good god this division sucks. Take 3 or more from the Brewers and let's get this season put back together.

Also, I was on the toilet flipping through my Fantasy Baseball Guide 2009 - Professional Edition magazine (please tell me nobody plays fantasy baseball professionally...) I got at the beginning of the fantasy season and decided to look some people up. Every player is listed with a little description. Kevin Gregg's entry was rather fun:

Lost the Marlins' closer job due to both injury and ineffectiveness, and given that he got it primarily due to circumstances rather than overwhelming ability, will probably have a difficult time getting another closing gig. That said, he has enough arm and history to take a stab at closing should the need arise. That make him (nice editing) worth an extra look come spring, anticipating the role slated to receive.

WINICK PAN: Blew nearly 1 in 4 save opportunities in 2008 and now will be pitching in the high pressure environment of Wrigley Field with Carlos Marmol a ready replacement (you sure about that?). Destined to be the punchline of another Cubs' joke when Jose Ceda becomes a star. (Ouch!)

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 07/02/2009 - 11:44pm

When Jose Ceda becomes a star at the Nathan's hot dog eating contest?

Submitted by rokfish
on Thu, 07/02/2009 - 11:54pm

Sam fuld will start in center friday.

The question is where does he hit in order?

Submitted by crunch
on Fri, 07/03/2009 - 12:20am

his ob% is way too low to leadoff, but he has shown he can K as well as hit for power. toss-up, leaning soriano.

Submitted by George Altman
on Fri, 07/03/2009 - 12:24am

He bats leadoff........if he doesn't then you now know that Hendry not Piniella is running this team.

Submitted by crunch
on Fri, 07/03/2009 - 12:52am

there is a pretty low chance hendry is running lou or dusty or baylor or anyone else's team and lineup. this ain't the yanks and this isn't that roll-over torre.

hendry might have some pull over who's on the 25, but micromanaging a lineup from the GM chair is far from his style...and besides, i personally don't think lou would go for that crap. no matter how much torre glossed things over about "the boss" controlling his teams that is not the norm and not very respected by some.

Submitted by waveland
on Fri, 07/03/2009 - 8:06am

I agree. Hendry's style would be to trade Fuld to the Orioles today for a pair of C- prospects in A ball.

Submitted by ddp33
on Fri, 07/03/2009 - 9:03am

with guzman, johnson and ramirez coming off the dl monday, who goes?

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 07/03/2009 - 9:23am

Hart, Fuld and one of Fox, Hoffpauir or Fontenot....

Submitted by Romero
on Fri, 07/03/2009 - 9:45am

Bradley.

Submitted by VirginiaPhil
on Fri, 07/03/2009 - 11:36am

Maybe Reed Johnson has come to the end of the line. I'm not sure what value he adds at this point vs. Fuld. Fuld has had two games batting leadoff. Johnson has not led off this season. Fuld has 20 SBs in 2009, Johnson has 1. Johnson has averaged 6-1/2 steals over six seasons.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 07/03/2009 - 1:09pm

he hits lefties...

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Fri, 07/03/2009 - 7:51pm

Plus we have Soriano, so why would we need another leadoff hitter?

Submitted by rokfish
on Fri, 07/03/2009 - 9:48am

Hart,Fuld, Fontenot

Submitted by Rob G.
on Fri, 07/03/2009 - 9:53am

would be neat if Soriano could play 2b again...at least until Fuld comes back down to Earth.

Fuld, Bradley, Lee, Ramirez, Soto, Fukudome, Soriano, Theriot

Submitted by VirginiaPhil
on Fri, 07/03/2009 - 11:15am

"Now the torch has been passed to Jeff Baker, an infielder acquired from Colorado for Class-A right-hander Al Alburquerque, who was also acquired in the Freel-Gathright deal."

That's Paul Sullivan explaining that Alburquerque has been a Cub for two months.

Alburquerque has been pitching in the Cub organization since 2006.

I do fact-checking before I post on this blog, but I guess the rules are looser at the Trib.

Meaningless error, except that it tends to marginalize Alburquerque, who was enjoying something of a breakout year and had earned the promotion to AA that the Rockies gave him immediately.

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Fri, 07/03/2009 - 11:21am

Submitted by The E-Man on Thu, 07/02/2009 - 9:41pm.

Anyway - I just noticed Cotts had surgery yesterday in Cinci with the famous Dr. Kremcheck...

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

E-MAN: Which means the Cubs will recall Cotts on 8/31 and immediately place him on the 15-day DL (just like they did with Rich Hill last year), making him (along with Chad Fox) a potential post-season roster exemption. (The Cubs won't put him on the 60-day DL unless their 40-man roster is full and they need his slot for another player). Then the Cubs will certainly non-tender Cotts on 12/12.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Fri, 07/03/2009 - 11:54am

Thanks AZ PHIL. So, you are convinced that the Cubs will pull an appropriate roster non-tender, for once (with the Hendry regime) ;-)

Submitted by Arizona Phil
on Fri, 07/03/2009 - 11:28am

Submitted by VirginiaPhil on Fri, 07/03/2009 - 10:15am.
Alburquerque has been pitching in the Cub organization since 2006.

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

COUSIN: Alberto Alburquerque was signed by the Cubs at the start of the International Signing Period in July 2003, and he has been pitching in the Cubs organization (off & on) since 2004 (he made his debut with the DSL Cubs in 2004, and missed the 2005 and 2008 seasons due to elbow and shoulder surgeries). In that way, he is a lot like Angel Guzman.

As I posted on a previous thread, Alburquerque was throwing mid-90's at Daytona, and was a candidate to get added to the Cubs 40-man roster post-2009. He projects similar to Marcos Mateo, the main difference being Mateo has a better slider, while Alburquerque has the better fastball.

Submitted by rokfish
on Fri, 07/03/2009 - 11:52am

For lous sake i hope soriano gets on base a couple of times
or lou is not gonna like his post game presser.
Personally i would have put fuld in center today.

Submitted by navigator
on Sat, 07/04/2009 - 11:34am

"I've never lost a ball in the sun," Bradley said.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090703&c...

That's an amazing statement coming from a guy who loses the ball as often as he does. My favorite incident was the ninth inning of game 1 of the 2006 ALDS when he "lost" the ball in the Metrodome roof and it fell for a triple. A's still managed to win 3-2.

http://mlb.mlb.com/media/player/mp_tpl_3_1.jsp?w_i...

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Sat, 07/04/2009 - 11:37am

My favorite incident was the ninth inning of game 1 of the 2006 ALDS when he "lost" the ball in the Metrodome roof and it fell for a triple.

There is a sun in the metrodome? And Bradley is not the first, or last, person to lose a ball in the roof at the metrodome.

Submitted by navigator
on Sat, 07/04/2009 - 11:59am

Give it a rest. My comment in no way implied he lost the ball in the sun at the Metrodome. What part of he lost the ball in the roof did you miss???

As for Bradley never having lost the ball in the sun. What did he lose it in last month, the Metrodome roof?

http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?content_id=5008427

Submitted by navigator
on Sat, 07/04/2009 - 12:07pm

Here's another Bradley Gem. Last April 21.

http://mlb.mlb.com/media/video.jsp?mid=20080421256...

never lost a ball in the sun eh?

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