Cubs Win Streak Ends at 5

The Cubs five-game win streak doesn't make it to six and and the loss coupled with the Cardinals win over the Dodgers, drops the Cubs back to second place. Ryan Dempster returned from the disabled list and was nothing short of awful. 5 IP, 9 H, 3 K and 5 ER, 6 total and the error was his own. But at least he didn't walk anyone! With the Cubs catching a huge break when Roy Oswalt left in the second inning with a back injury, the Cubs just needed some decent pitching to stay in this one and they sure didn't get it from Dempster or the bullpen. 

Armchair Managing: The Cubs first comeback started in the fourth when Wesley Wright just completely lost it and missed the strike zone on 10 straight pitches and quite a few more before and after as well. He walked the bases loaded on two occasions with a sacrifice fly in-between and with lefty Mike Fontenot in the original lineup with Oswalt starting, Lou went to the bench early and called on Reed Johnson to pinch-hit and he came through with a 2-out, 2-run single. Then a nicely executed double steal put runners on 2nd/3rd but also gave the Astros the opportunity to intentionally walk Koyie Hill and force Lou's hand with Dempster due up. Lou didn't take the bait and let Dempster hit and he naturally struck out. If you're already going for the big inning by pinch-hitting for Fontenot, I think you have to do the same with Dempster there. And if Lou called for the double steal, he basically ended the Cubs inning if he wasn't going to pinch-hit for Dempster, since you know Cooper would walk Hill there. This all leads me to believe that Lou is a terrible chess player. Dempster then rewarded Lou's faith by giving up a 2-run HR in the top of the fifth that gave the Astros a 6-3 lead.

Ramirez's three-run dinger int he bottom of the fifth neutralized the damage though and then the bullpen proceeded to flush the game and first place with it.

Half-Ass Parachat Recap:

  • Miggy's 3-run HR in the first
    • well it looked like a HR, sac fly instead
  • Debating Top 10 defensive plays of the decade
    • Was Giambi safe?
      • no
  • laughing at the Astros misfortune with Roy Oswalt
  • Valverde with Fulchino is delicious
  • Transmission's date with his sister
  • Following Buehrle's quest for back-to-back perfectos and congratulations on the new record...now go die!
    • "Ryan Dempster is NOT pitching a perfect game" - Ryno
  • Finding Trans a date on craigslist
    • We wouldn't have to do this if you weren't having dates with your sister.
  • I get bored doing the Parachat recap...
    • stupid blackout rules, bring Trans back to us

And congratulations to the Angel Fan Wife on being married to me for 8 years...I imagine it's been just as insufferable as being a Cub fan sometime over the last 100. Lots of expectations, but neither of us deliver....

 

Tags: 
Game Recap
Submitted by Rob G. on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 12:04am
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Comments

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 12:10am

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/giants/detail?...

deal in place for Freddy Sanchez to the Giants supposedly...

Submitted by navigator
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 1:49am

best parachat recap ever!

Submitted by CT_Steve
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 7:26am

You're a thick gurl, and you've gone too far
'Cause you know it don't matter anyway

You can rely on Trans's good lovin'
Oh, you can rely on Trans's good lovin'

And don't you know
Don't you know...

Submitted by O.Julius
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 7:31am

I rarely pull the "I just knew it" card, but I just knew when Lou failed to ph for Dempster that he was going to suck in the next 1/2 inning.

I'm more upset with the Dodgers though. What's the point of best record in the league you bastards? At least the Nats are embarrassing the Brewers.

Submitted by Ryno
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 8:08am

Congrats Rob G.

Submitted by Ryno
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 8:30am

Interestingly we just had our 8-year anniversary one week ago, too.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 8:49am

Congrats to you both. What is year 8, macaroni art?

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 8:14am

another Astro pitcher out, not just oswalt and hawkins...

Astros reliever Wesley Wright was diagnosed with dehydration after being rushed to the hospital following Houston's 11-6 win over the Chicago Cubs.

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/baseball/wires/s...

Submitted by Doug Dascenzo
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 10:31am

That is simply unbelievable. How is it even possible for a baseball player to suffer from dehydration? It was an 82 degree night game, no less. Not exactly the Gobi Desert out there.

I've played basketball for 3-4 hours at a time and managed to not get rushed to the hospital. This idiot pitches 3 innings, and can't just take a couple sips of Gatorade?

Submitted by SJS
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 12:08pm

Didn't Z have problems with dehydration because he was messing with the Red Bulls and not drinking water/gatorade?

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 8:17am

Oswalt flying to Houston Wednesday to be checked out by Drs. Doesn't look good.

http://twitter.com/alysonfooter/status/2903124932

It’s unclear if Oswalt must head to the disabled list, but he acknowledged Tuesday night that he likely will miss at least one start.
“I’m not going to do anything strenuous, but moving around, it’s not too bad,” Oswalt said. “I knew I shouldn’t stay out there and blow it all the way out.”

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bb/6552...

Submitted by jacos
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 8:36am

I was flipping the dial last night and Dye hit a homer to put Sox up 1-0, and Stoney was recapping "with that blast Jermaine Dye has put the Cubs...I mean White Sox up one to nothing." Nervous laughter.

Hawk made an angry chuckle noise and went back to the game.

Classic.

Submitted by navigator
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 11:34am

A few moments before, Hawk had mentioned the score at Wrigley. No doubt that had something to with Stone forgetting where he was.

"Niagra Falls"

"Slowly I turned....."

Submitted by The E-Man
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 9:05am

This was a "Sacrificial Lamb" game. I realize it - however unfortunate I felt that the cards lined up that I had to be there for this one. However, the baseball gods gave a break to the Cubs when Oswalt got pulled. What had me furious was KNOWING in advance that Demp was going to throw no more than 80 or so pitches, and since he was up to 68 when his AB came up with the bases juiced, what the fuck is the difference in pulling him there, as ROB G states?

So - you're going to wast a go-ahead scenario to save 13-15 pitches for the bullpen?

This is one more reason why I will be happy when Lou does not return next year.

That is just OLD.

Not mentioned: Bourne's game-saving catch on Theriot which would have put the Cubs ahead 7-6 at the time. He had an All-Star night on us.

Submitted by VirginiaPhil
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 9:53am

Lou bends over backwards to get his starters five innings and a chance to notch a win. Chess pieces don't have pride, feelings, agents, etc.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 10:11am

Then he pinch hits for an actual hitter, and uses a third player to replace Fontenot defensively then he double switches in Hoffpauir even though the pitcher he put in would have never come up, and Hoffpauir's defense in right costs us a run or two. Then he puts in Heilman to put out a fire, even though Heilman has been the worst guy on the team doing that this year. Finally, in the 9th, all of his pinch hitters used, in part because he used 3 for one at bat (2 on) when not using any for a different at bat (pitcher up bases loaded), and we need a walk, so he sends up Big Z, who is just about the least likely guy to take a walk on the team.

Without a doubt the worst in game managerial performance by this guy since he was here.

Submitted by VirginiaPhil
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 12:32pm

"then he double switches in Hoffpauir even though the pitcher he put in would have never come up."

Hoffpauir was the third batter in the Cubs next half-inning. Guzman had only faced one batter and was going to stay in the game.

Lou tends not to overmanage, but sometimes he yanks guys punitively. It was out of character for Lou to pinch hit for a starting second-baseman early in the game, but I assume he was pissed at Fontenot for the missed bunt the night before. And Bradley got the hook (in favor of Hoffpauir) after another terrible left-handed at-bat in the bottom of the fifth. He came out in the top of the sixth.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 12:57pm

You're right on that first part. So after he fucked up by leaving Dempster in, the next stupid thing Lou did was taking out Marshall, which he meant he had to use 3 players instead of 2. Hey Lou, the game is 6-6 in 6 innings and you just had a 13 inning game the night before. Try not to burn 2 players in single at bats. It's just simple math.

"It was out of character for Lou to pinch hit for a starting second-baseman early in the game, but I assume he was pissed at Fontenot for the missed bunt the night before."

If he was mad at him for the night before he should have started Blanco or Baker, not burned through his bench before the 7th inning was over.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 2:25pm

he took out Fontenot because a lefty was now on the mound and the Cubs were down 4 runs and needed a better chance to score. Should have done it w/ Dempster too...

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 2:37pm

By the end of the game we had used 4 guys for the 2nd basemen slot. Lou made a lot of decisions that went against the common sense in the game, and not a single one of them paid off.

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 10:02am

Espn-1000 radio said Cubs calling up Mitch Atkins for a fresh arm in the bullpen, not confirmed elsewhere yet...nor the other roater move...they did interview Samardzija so I doubt he's going to Iowa

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 10:04am

Smardizjia makes the most sense, but since Stevens is probably not going to pitch today, I would guess he's the guy.

Submitted by Paul Noce
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 10:57am

Confirmed by Sullivan, Stevens down, Atkins up.

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/spor...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 11:09am

Stevens it is...

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/spor...

Submitted by The E-Man
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 10:43am

TRN: Do the Houton fans believe they are playing way over their heads, or do they expect this post-asg hot streak?

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 11:51am

The knowledgeable ones know what's going on. The casual ones are sure they're in for another 50 win second half.

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 11:00am

Half-Ass Parachat Recap...
---

Cheeky

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 11:19am

BJ Ryan appearance at Iowa last night, 1 IP, 1 BB, 0 K, 0 ER

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 11:33am

from the I-Cubs site:

Aaron Miles is with the Cubs on his second Major League rehab assignment of the year Miles has been on Chicago's disabled list since June 21st with a hyperextended right elbow. He joined the I-Cubs on July 16th and is batting .213 (10-for-47) with four doubles, four RBI, and three runs scored 11 games on this rehab stint.

Question: what is the limit allowed (if any) for a mlb rehab assignment? Somewhere I recall it's in the 2-3 week range and Miles is at 13 days now.
---
also noted in BJ Ryan's outing.. Pitches 11- Strikes 5. Kind of odd but innocuous considering a 5 pitch walk.

He got a fly out (3 pitches, 2-0 count), walk (on 5 pitches), double play (3 pitches, 0-2 count)

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 11:36am

i believe 30 days for a pitcher, 20 for a position player...

http://texas.rangers.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?c_id...

and if you assign them to your spring training complex, it reduces what they can do at an upper level...

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 11:39am

step by step, inch by inch...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yJBhzMWJCc

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 11:44am

lineup, via len and bob twitter...

RJohnson (CF), Theriot, DLee, ARam, Bradley, Soriano, Baker, Hill and Wells

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 11:52am

FREE JAKE FOX!!!

Submitted by MikeVail
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 1:31pm

Johnson, with his .325 OBP, has no business leading off.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 2:26pm

.382 vs lefties this year jumpy, .376 for his career

Submitted by Iowa Cub
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 2:29pm

But he does have a .382 OBP against LHP this year, and a .405 OBP against lefties in 2006-2008. So he's actually a pretty good leadoff hitter when a lefty is on the mound.

Submitted by OakLawnGuy
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 12:04pm

The Mariners traded Ronny Cedeno, Jeff Clement and 3 minor leaguers to the Pirates for Jack Wilson and Ian Snell.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_relea...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 12:11pm

I look forward to the Cubs facing a Ronny Cedeno-led Pirates team...

Submitted by John Beasley
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 12:12pm

Sorry Pirates, just because Ronny can't hit doesn't make him a good defender.

Glad to see him back in the division ... I just wish it was for St. Louis or Milwaukee.

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 12:12pm

yahoo (Edes/Brown) reporting Phillies "on verge" of getting Cliff Lee from Tribe thus changing the landscape for Halliday

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ys-tradebuzz...

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 12:35pm

http://blogs.dailyherald.com/node/2346

Bruce Miles comments on Mitch Atkins suckitude and...

B.J. Ryan apparently topped out at about 87 mph last night in his Iowa debut.

and the wind is blowing in at wrigley today

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 12:41pm

87 is an improvement over what he was supposedly throwing...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 12:43pm

looks like Victor Martinez could be on the move as well from Indians, Red Sox and Rays seem the most interested....

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 1:01pm

Can he catch? He'd look mighty good in the Cubs lineup right about now.

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 12:58pm

Rosenthal reporting Tribe/Phils agree to trade...

Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco to Philly for Jason Knapp, Carlos Carrasco, Jason Donald and Lou Marson. The teams still have to examine medical records for the deal to go through.

http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9866498/MLB-tra...'s-edition

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 1:20pm

Four of the six starters the Cubs could expect to face in a first round playoff series are now left handed.

Wonder if this inspires the Cubs to look at doing something a little bigger than adding a reliever. It's hard to argue, even healthy, that we're better than the 3rd best team in the league now.

Submitted by Jace
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 1:46pm

of Whoop-ass on Mike Hampton! That's a fun thing to see in the first inning!

Submitted by jacos
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 1:49pm

Nice start!!

Bet by next inning Hampton grabs his elbow like Rodney Dangerfield in "Caddy Shack"

Oooh!Oooh! Its broken.

Submitted by Jackstraw
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 1:50pm

Typical f'ing Cubs.

Score a touchdown the first time on offense, then miss the extra point.

Submitted by Iowa Cub
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 2:33pm

PAT in the 2nd inning.

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 1:48pm

6 spot!

Submitted by The E-Man
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 2:19pm

Shit. We went to the wrong game last night.

- sigh -

GO CUBS!

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 2:20pm

G spot?

Submitted by Little Nate Lewis
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 2:23pm

Box score says Fukudome subbed in for Johnson.... Johnson injured?

Submitted by OakLawnGuy
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 2:35pm

MLB Gameday calls it a "foot/ankle" injury.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 2:55pm

Fouled a ball off his foot.

Submitted by Ryno
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 2:25pm

Aramis Ramirez is a beast. And since Fonzie is going to hit now, it's cool that he can do it with guys on base.

Submitted by Andy
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 2:37pm

I <3 Mike Hampton.

Submitted by Jace
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 2:40pm

Seems like a good time to stick Fox in a catcher... Give Hill a breather...

Submitted by Ryno
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 2:45pm

Can't. What do you do if Fox gets hurt? Marmol?

Submitted by Jace
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 2:48pm

... or Wells, once he's done pitching... Has that ever happened?

Submitted by John Beasley
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 2:54pm

I think I read that either Baker or Fonty can be used in an emergency.

Submitted by billybucks
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 3:29pm

I always find this a very bizarre "conventional wisdom" argument.

No stats, but I am willing to bet that in less than 5% of MLB games does a catcher leave the game due to injury (or, in Michael Barrett's case, get tossed for punching a prick). Maybe less than 1%.

With a 10-0 lead, on a warm, humid day, with a catcher who has caught every game for weeks, I'd be willing to roll the dice that Fox wouldn't get injured so badly he would need to leave the game in the last 2 innings. If he came up to bat, tell him not to swing so he won't foul a ball off his foot.

Submitted by Jace
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 3:38pm

Yeah, and it seems to me that Hill might be more likely to get hurt, just from fatigue...

Submitted by jacos
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 2:44pm

Sword meet Mike Hampton
Mike Hampton meet sword

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 2:59pm

http://muskat.mlblogs.com/archives/2009/07/729_ree...

Cubs outfielder Reed Johnson had to leave Wednesday's game because of a bruised left foot, likely suffered after fouling a ball off of it during the Cubs' six-run first inning against the Houston Astros.

Johnson, who entered the game batting .248, had singled to lead off the first for the Cubs, kicking off a six-run inning. He flied out to center to end the first.

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=2...

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 3:16pm

Orioles DL Rich Hill with shoulder tendonitis...can a knee scope be far behind?

Submitted by navigator
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 3:37pm

As some of the Baltimore media said, Hill's got tendinitis between the ears.

Submitted by jacos
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 3:20pm

All we need is to bring in Marmol to close the 8th and 9th and this will be a great vitory!!!

Submitted by Craig A.
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 3:41pm

Won't this be the right situation for Adkins?

Submitted by Jace
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 3:42pm

Gameday has two of the four balls just pitched to Fonty as well within the strike zone...

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 3:50pm

Monday it had four pitches showing as borderline strikes... on an intentional walk.

Submitted by Rob Richardson
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 3:57pm

What should I be happier about the 12 runs scored or the 0 runs allowed?

Submitted by navigator
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 4:00pm

How about the emergence of Randy Wells as the staff ACE?

Submitted by Stevens
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 4:02pm

Be happiest about the difference between the two. : )

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 4:03pm

Milton went an entire game without striking out and got robbed of an RBI double, and Koyie Hill is up to a blistering .206 batting average with his two hits today.

Submitted by billybucks
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 4:52pm

I tip my cap to Koye -- catching every game, a day game after a night game, and he gets 2 hits.

"When the hell is this offense gogin to score some......why won't they move Soriano down in the....Soriano can't hit with runners in scoring....they can't expect A-Ram to come back and be the same..."

Aw, forget it.

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 07/29/2009 - 4:58pm

Reed Johnson...broken foot, out at least a month

http://blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/spor...

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