Redemption

Carlos Zambrano got the opportunity to redeem his baseball soul thanks to the grace of Touchdown Jesus and the Cubs bullpen works this time in a 4-3 win at Cincinnati.

The Good: Z pitches quite well going 7 innings and giving up 3 runs and a home run against 9 K's, including striking out the side in his last inning. The Cubs offense doesn't strand a runner. After Ryan Theriot breaks up the perfect game to lead off the 4th, he takes second on a wild pitch that bounced in front of catcher Ryan Hanigan. Hanigan throws it away and it bounces into center field and Theriot was going to try third base (and it looked like he would have probably been nailed to me), but ran into shortstop Orlando Cabrera. No interference obstruction was called though despite the protests of Lou and Theriot. That made the count 2-0 on Fukudome and he showed bunt on the next pitch but took it for a strike. Not sure if he was just trying to dupe Harang or was seriously considering a bunt, but he then takes the ensuing curveball deep to right for the first 2 Cubs runs. He almost hit a second one out in his next at-bat. Soriano hit a hanging slider out for run number 3 and Jeff Baker with the clutch pinch-hit home run off Arthur Rhodes. Marmol's slider was biting and the Reds were flailing away for the save.

The Bad: The Cubs didn't leave anyone on-base cause they just managed one walk and 5 hits, 3 of them home runs and Lee got picked off first base. If they did plus/minus ratings like in hockey, Soriano was probably a 0, because the first run by the Reds was thanks to a linedrive with 2 out that Soriano turned the wrong way and then lept and missed by an inch that should have ended the inning. #8 hitter Ryan Hanigan then singled him home despite first base being open and Harang on-deck. Grabow did get through the 8th, but gave up a single to lefty Joey Votto and a rocket to lefty Jay Bruce that Lee made an outstanding leaping stab to rob a hit. A bit worrisome we have another Mike Remliger situation brewing.

Next Up: Tom Gorzelanny makes his 2010 debut against 2009 draftee Mike Leake making his major league debut.

Tags: 
Carlos Zambrano
Cubs Game Recaps
Submitted by Rob G. on Sat, 04/10/2010 - 5:19pm
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Comments

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sat, 04/10/2010 - 5:23pm

no-go for Lilly tomorrow

stiff back

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=372300

Submitted by jacos
on Sat, 04/10/2010 - 6:42pm

as we speed towards June

Submitted by Ryno
on Sat, 04/10/2010 - 6:20pm

Quicksand jesus!

Submitted by Ryno
on Sat, 04/10/2010 - 6:23pm

And I think Mr. Whipple's parachat comment deserves repeating:

Did you hear the good news? Jesus has risen! Well, half way...

Hope I got that right.

Submitted by Mister Whipple
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 12:32am

That is correct.

I love that image. It's the funniest thing in ages. Well done, sir.

Submitted by crunch
on Sat, 04/10/2010 - 6:23pm

ha...

Submitted by jacos
on Sat, 04/10/2010 - 6:43pm

"2009 draftee Mike Leake"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7Zk3SuyOCU

Submitted by garsky
on Sat, 04/10/2010 - 6:53pm

Theriot should indeed have been given 3rd base, but not for interference. When a fielder gets in the way of a baserunner, that's obstruction. Interference is when a runner gets in the way of a fielder.

Being a youth baseball commissioner means you learn nitpicky details like this.

Submitted by mannytrillo
on Sat, 04/10/2010 - 8:36pm

Glad to see Dr. Zekyll came back instead of the Opening Day Mr. Zyde.

Go Cubs!

Submitted by Ryno
on Sat, 04/10/2010 - 9:40pm

It could be a worse bullpen. We don't have George Sherrill.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sat, 04/10/2010 - 10:20pm

T. Diamond with the start at Iowa, 5 IP, 5 K, 1 ER, 1 BB
J. Gray 2 scoreless innings
J. Stevens faced 3 batters, gave up 2 BB's and a hit
Schlitter with 2 scoreless innings as well

Offensive explosion in AA with Castro going 3/5, Bibens-Dirx strikes out 6 in 5 innings giving up 2 ER.

Daytona bats wake up a bit in a 7-4 win although B. Jackson is still hitless. Vitter 1/6, LeMaheiu 1/6, Burke 2/6, M. Brenly with a 3-run HR.

Peoria: H. Lee 1/4 with an RBI, Watkins 1/5, pitching gets roughed up in a 6-2 loss.

Submitted by crunch
on Sat, 04/10/2010 - 10:24pm

BRING UP THEM...DEMOTE EVERYONE ELSE...START COLVIN THE REST OF THE WAY OUT...DFA EVERYONE WHO DOESN'T WANT TO GO DOWN...MORE DEFENSIVE PRACTICE DRILLS FOR ALL OUTFIELDERS (AT LEAST 1 MORE HOUR PER DAY)...FIRE LARRY...FIRE RUDY...FIRE LOU...BRING UP SANDBERG...PROMOTE MADDUX...LET'S WIN 100 THE REST OF THE WAY OUT.

YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!

Submitted by Mister Whipple
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 12:35am

Thank you, Howard Dean.

Submitted by Cubster
on Sat, 04/10/2010 - 10:28pm

Gray will be up shortly.

Who is Austin Bibens-Dirkx and why is his name so hard to spell?

if he gets called up in the next year or two, will the Cubs market X-games?

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/B/Aust...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 12:18am

guys I missed

Alberto Cabrera threw 6 shutout innings giving up 2 hits in Daytona, AA Ty Wright went 4/5 with a HR.

http://twitter.com/insidetheivy/status/119745...

http://twitter.com/insidetheivy/status/119746...

Submitted by Charlie
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 9:06am

I keep forgetting we have Thomas Diamond. Would the Cubs consider him for the bullpen if he continues to show some control at AAA, or are they looking at him exclusively as back end/rotation insurance?

Submitted by Cubster
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 9:37am

Woody and Hoffman had theme music but Thomas Diamond's a natural for the bullpen

dim the house lights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZSWAkJ3h8E

Submitted by Charlie
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 11:03am

That'll only work if boozed up bleacher bums can remain reverently silent and Thomas Diamond can somehow throw his warmup pitches in extreme slow motion. Under those conditions, it will be the most affecting theme music of all time.

Maybe after a loss the Cubs can play Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings over the stadium sound system, too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jFbNEcJp1s

Submitted by JoePepitone
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 5:41pm

Wow, a YouTube standoff. Cubster is the Cub Reporter king of video/photo references but Charlie has just thrown down a challenge! This is excitement!

Personally, after this latest Cubs performance, I'm hoping to become Comfortably Numb.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRuIqN-CZpY&fe...

By the way, Charlie, thanks for the Adagio for Strings link. Heartbreakingly beautiful music. Perfect for Cubs fans (sigh).

Submitted by Charlie
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 7:17pm

If you liked that, here's something I think you'll really enjoy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFZ7326-9k0&fe...

I recommend it as a theme until we blow somebody out for the first time.

Submitted by JoePepitone
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 11:02pm

Good choice!

Submitted by Cubster
on Sat, 04/10/2010 - 10:35pm

the Jewish version of Touchdown Jesus

http://www.bangitout.com/uploads/thumbs/42Tou...

Submitted by rokfish
on Sat, 04/10/2010 - 11:01pm

I notice Samardjza is well rested.

Thank you Lou

Submitted by Ryno
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 9:47am

Would you rather have him on the Bears or Cubs?

Submitted by Cubster
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 10:56am

http://twitter.com/CarrieMuskat/

Ryan Theriot has strained right calf and may be scratched. He is hitting (right now) in BP. If he can't go, Font will move to SS

(whispering softly: Starlin Castro is hitting .462)

http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/milb/stats...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 10:58am

Theriot, Fuku, Lee, Ramirez, Byrd, Soriano, Font, Soto, Gorz

vs.

Stubbs, Cabrera, Votto, Phillips, Rolen, Hernandez, Gomes, Dickerson, Leake

Submitted by The E-Man
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 11:05am

THen I would assume same lineup tomorrow (replace Gorz w/Demp obviously) for the opener?

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 12:22pm

leadoff bb, double, pitch around Lee

what are the odds of scoring with the bases loaded and 0 out?

0% if you're the Cubs.

Ramirez goes out of the zone and pops it up, Byrd misses 2 fastballs and fouls them off and K's on a sinker, Soriano is Soriano.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 12:25pm

Soriano leaps for a ball in foul territory...about 3 feet from the wall and misses it.

Gorz still K's Votto though.

Submitted by Charlie
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 12:27pm

I know it's only one inning, but the offense failing to cash in even one run in a situation like that--there is no more ideal situation than bases loaded, no outs, middle of the lineup due up--frustrates me even more than bullpen meltdowns. They'll have to win and score more than 3 or 4 runs today for me to forget that.

Submitted by Ryno
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 12:34pm

Ridiculous.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 1:33pm

BUT...what about Rudy Jaramillo!

He is the best batting coach in baseball, right?

Submitted by Charlie
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 12:31pm

Leake vs. Gorz:
89 mph fastball
88 mph fastball
88 mph fastball
88 mph changeup

Submitted by Ryno
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 12:33pm

If your changeup is the same speed as your fastball, you might want to ditch the changeup.

Submitted by Charlie
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 12:54pm

No runs will come of this.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 1:44pm

I am of the opinion that A-Ram is hurt. The guy does not look right yet, and did not have much of a spring. We will see, and it is early, but this guy is not the same at the plate.

Submitted by Charlie
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 1:58pm

He's overswinging right now (I think) and he's missing some pitches he shouldn't miss because of that. That doesn't necessarily mean he's not hurt too, of course.

Submitted by crunch
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 2:57pm

things we've learned early...defense and bullpen might not be overrated.

sigh...

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 3:06pm

deserving to lose a game...

Submitted by jacos
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 3:11pm

Where are we at on the Soriano departure countdown?

Submitted by Jumbo
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 3:24pm

I think we're down to 5 years left

Submitted by Ryno
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 5:20pm

Shit.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 3:53pm

I am floored with the terrific beginning of the starting pitching. The scenario of bullpen blows happened last year when the starters were doing well too. And, they were BETTER!

This year, so far with MAgic Rudy, and a reliever that has two losses in four appearances, it is going to be a long year.

I can see why many picked the Reds 2nd.

The wnidow can be closed soon unless changes are made.

Submitted by John Beasley
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 3:28pm

I'm starting a new stat called UZR/5. Soriano is currently -66. Now I remember why I couldn't wait for baseball to end last year.

Submitted by Tito
on Mon, 04/12/2010 - 11:48am

Where's big lowitski to tell us Soriano is, in fact, a good outfielder?

Submitted by Rob G.
on Mon, 04/12/2010 - 12:05pm

remarkably, he still has good defensive numbers over a 3-yr span from all the guys he threw out the first 2 years...actually it's heavily swayed by his first year with being just above average in 2008

Submitted by Charlie
on Mon, 04/12/2010 - 12:27pm

I just can't buy that. Is it reasonable to cite Soriano as evidence that the defensive metrics need a lot more tuning?

Submitted by Rob G.
on Mon, 04/12/2010 - 12:36pm

well sure they do, but it's a 3-yr average.

Using UZR/150, he's 22.4/5.2/-15.9 and Plus/Minues he's 16/5/-4.

That puts him 12th over 3 year in UZR/150 for all outfielders (and 3rd for LF'ers behind Crawford and Holliday). 15th in +/- for all OF'ers and still 3rd for LF'ers behind the same two.

I'm not citing them as perfection, but guys can have career years defensively like they do offensively. It's not measuring talent as much as what happened and Soriano did eliminate a lot of runners with his arm and made less errors and not as many screw-ups those first 2 years.

Submitted by Doug Dascenzo
on Mon, 04/12/2010 - 1:36pm

I think what's most alarming is that the more he plays LF, the worse he seems to get at it. I know he's had leg problems and all that, but it really seems like he has a serious mental block about catching fly balls, and the more he drops the more it affects him.

Submitted by jacos
on Mon, 04/12/2010 - 12:29pm

If there are runners on first and second and outfielder drops fly ball and throws to third for force out, is that considered an assist?

Submitted by Rob G.
on Mon, 04/12/2010 - 12:40pm

yes, could be an error and an assist depending on the nature of the drop.

you get credit for basehits that should sometimes be errors or bloops that someone should have been caught, not sure why folks get up in arms over anomalies in defensive stats.

and I'm not saying that UZR or +/- are perfect or anything, but if you use 3-yr averages (which is about 1-yr worth of hitting sample size), you start to get a decent picture with them. In Soriano's case you can clearly see the decline that matches what's happening on the field.

Submitted by jacos
on Mon, 04/12/2010 - 12:52pm

Thanks Rob.

Is there a way to tell how many "assists" Soriano got with the drop/error?

Submitted by Rob G.
on Mon, 04/12/2010 - 12:58pm

not that I know of...

he still got the out though, so not sure if there's any difference other than aesthetically. I'm guessing he gets some extra credit for an outfield assist over just making the play, but I don't know the mathematics behind it.

fwiw, +/- is now on Fangraphs pages.

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Mon, 04/12/2010 - 3:45pm

I never said that. I said that his first year as a Cub the defensive metrics showed him to be a good left fielder. I also said, very clearly, that he had gotten worse. But I notice that you conveniently left that out.

Submitted by Tito
on Mon, 04/12/2010 - 4:36pm

You said one more than one occasion, usually after someone complained about his defense, that stats showed he was a good OF.

I haven't followed whether you said he has gotten worse. It was an error of omission, not comission. And it was meant in jest anyway.

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Mon, 04/12/2010 - 4:53pm

Tito, I remember specific conversations, with you, about this. I said very clearly that the stats showed that he was a good lf (not OF - two different things) in his first year. And that is still true. And it is true that I have said he has gotten worse.

Submitted by VirginiaPhil
on Mon, 04/12/2010 - 5:01pm

Be honest, Big. I've been reading your comments for a long time, and you don't say things like, "the defensive metrics showed him to be a good left fielder," for the simple reason that when you have metrics to back you up, you state the thing as a fact. How could the metrics be wrong?

"He was a good fielder in '07"--that's more your style, isn't it?

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Tue, 04/13/2010 - 3:37pm

I state the fact, and then say why, showing the facts.

But whatever. The stats showed Soriano to be one of the better LFers in the league for his first year as a Cub. And I still agree with the stats. He was decent, if not good, that first year. He struggled at some things, but he overall he was a decent/good LFer that first year.

And Soriano has looked really, really awful since then, and the defensive metrics (last I looked) appear to be reflecting that over the last year or so.

Submitted by Cubster
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 3:51pm

Soriano needs transplant surgery...both legs and a new glove hand

Submitted by Jumbo
on Mon, 04/12/2010 - 5:03am

brain

Submitted by The E-Man
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 4:30pm

In searching for a replay of Soriano's error today (I did not watch the game), I Googled "Soriano's Error".

I received 2,890,000 results.

Try it!

Submitted by crunch
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 4:40pm

he jogged to the ball, not like he was camped under it, but he had plenty of time to get himself in position to catch it glove-arm-out on the jog...it popped into his mitt and bounced out of the webbing.

he was expecting something a bit more routine judging by how he approached it.

no hop, btw. =p

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 4:48pm

http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/video/play.jsp...

MLB.com URL's are lame but look at the videos below for Gomes reaches base on Soriano error

Submitted by The E-Man
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 5:12pm

Thanks. WOW - Brennaman really drives home the pathetic point even more...

So, did anyone pick Gomes would outhit Byrd?

Submitted by Ryno
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 5:22pm

Ouch... the truth hurts.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 7:11pm

In the strange but true category: Moving Soriano to second makes the Cubs a better defensive team. Plus it gives a lineup slot to Rollin' Colvin.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 7:18pm

in this category, is Soriano at 2b equal to Fontenot at 2b defensively?

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 8:50pm

No, I assume he'd be as bad as always, but that still saves us runs over what he's doing in left. I think he needs a sports psychologist.

Submitted by Charlie
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 7:20pm

Not as much better as moving him to the bench. Or Taiwan.

Submitted by WISCGRAD
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 5:29pm

I didn't see a lot of spring training, so I didn't notice this until today. But when I saw Tracy up to bat today I had to do a double take because I thought it was Aaron Miles. Yuck.

Submitted by Cubster
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 6:27pm

Miles was more versatile, he could make outs from both sides of the plate

Submitted by Ryno
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 7:00pm

Miles always caused a case of blinding rage for me. Just the fact that he was allowed to play major league baseball annoyed me.

Submitted by The E-Man
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 7:57pm

haha!! Good one Cubster!

Submitted by Cubster
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 6:26pm

this version of Adagio for Strings works better for Baker/Fonty...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3U7QJ6pN1I&fe...

Submitted by crunch
on Sun, 04/11/2010 - 6:35pm

progressive trance is a plague upon humanity...and so is dubstep while i'm picking on stuff...

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