Game 133 Thread / Cubs @ Pirates (3 of 3)

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SP Jason Marquis SP *Zach Duke
  8-7, 4.76, 71 K, 52 BB, 134.1 IP
4-12, 5.29, 72 K, 42 BB, 151.1 IP
       
LF Alfonso Soriano RF *Nyjer Morgan
SS Ryan Theriot SS Jack Wilson
1B Derrek Lee CF *Nate McLouth
3B Aramis Ramirez 1B *Adam LaRoche
CF Reed Johnson LF *Brandon Moss
RF Mark DeRosa 2B Freddy Sanchez
2B Ronny Cedeno 3B Andy LaRoche
C Henry Blanco C Raul Chavez
P *Jason Marquis P *Zach Duke

 

The Cubs go for the sweep, and once again I am reminded that I don't know how to add Rob's broom graphic to the game results box at the top of the right-hand column. I'll make you a deal, Jason Marquis: you win the game, and I'll work on the broom.

As they try for their 13th victory in their last 14 road games and their 14th win in 18 games against the Pirates this season, the Cubs will go with their all-righty starting eight, including Henry Blanco in place of Geovany Soto behind the plate.

I hope Hank got the memo about our catchers being required to contribute at least 7 RBI per game. 

 This Month

Pitcher GS
 W-L
 IP
 H
ERA
AVG. GAME SCORE
Jason Marquis 4 2-1  23  24 5.09 46
Carlos Zambrano 5 1-1  26.2  31 7.43 39
Tags: 
Jason Marquis
Gamday Open Thread
Submitted by Cubnut on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 6:23am
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Comments

Submitted by John Beasley
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 10:51am

It's a "travel day" lineup today, clearly. Good for Soto to have the day off, but why DeRo - and in that case, not why DLee?

AZ Phil, can you add your thoughts about the AZ Fall League selections and why the Cubs chose to target these individuals for that coveted assignment?

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 10:56am

PonDerosa for MVP is playing in right. DLee had a day off Monday (or Sunday?) and his backup bats left handed.

Submitted by John Beasley
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 11:09am

Oops, my bad. I guess I'm CB Buckner-blind.

Submitted by big_lowitzki
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 1:54pm

It's a "travel day" lineup today, clearly.

Or just the lineup against LHP, with Soto getting the day off in a day game after a night game.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 11:00am

Alfonso Soriano, Oh no!
Ryan Theriot no go
Derrek Lee's not studly
Aramis Ramirez who says?
Reed Johnson is pondscum
Mark DeRosa where's Sosa?
Ronny Cedeno is no volcano
Hank White has no fight
Jason Marquis pitches BP

This poem sucks.

Submitted by Andrew
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 11:03am

This lineup sucks!

Seriously, why Johnson at #5 and DeRosa at #6?

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 11:12am

That's a trick Lou learned from Ned Yost. You set the lineup by defensive position, not by offensive aptitude.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 11:28am

the ability to bitch about a lineup that scores more than anybody else in the league by a far margin is amazing..

Reed and DeRosa have about the same OPS against lefties this year... 

Submitted by Mister Whipple
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 9:04pm

You must be new here. Welcome!

Submitted by Tito
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 11:35am

Don't limit the amazing bitching to just the lineup. :)

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 11:52am

what happened on the Derrek Lee out in the first? Yahoo has Soriano on third and a groundout to SS. Did the Pirates have the infield in?

Submitted by jacos
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 11:56am

Lee go to SS drawn in infield.

Submitted by WISCGRAD
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 12:12pm

Soriano needs to get his head out of his ass. Another error in the first where he took his eye off of the ball and then picked-off trying to steal second just now - out by 10 feet.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 12:15pm

in defense of Soriano, the nightlife in Pittsburgh is legendary

Submitted by HendryIsClueLess
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 1:02pm

Can we get Lee out of the 3rd hole already?!?

Man on 3rd less than 2 out, Ground Out to SS (We need a flyball)

Man on 2nd No out, Ground Out to the left side, instead of the right side!!

At this point we need start playing the hot hands.

Ram 3rd
Derosa 4th
Lee 5th
Edmonds 6th
Soto 7th

Anyone else agree?

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 1:11pm

navigator does....

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 1:19pm

Ronny Cedeno should have hit a flyball there....

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 1:21pm

suicide squeeze by Blanco?

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 1:28pm

Yeah, bad bunt that worked out well. Popped up down the first base line but no one caught it and it didn't roll foul.

Submitted by Hawkeye
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 1:24pm

Who is pitching? I thought that Marquis was supposed to be in the mound. It looks like him, but maybe it is his doppleganger?

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 1:58pm

2nd doppleganger mention I heard today (Rob G wants a RH version of Hoffpaiur), and I am reading a book where one plays a signficant role. Sort of weird.

Submitted by Lost Fox
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 3:59pm

Yep, despite the well pitched game by Marquis -still dislike him. He is exceptionally average, but as Rob G. and others have repeatedly pointed out he is a solid #5. Maybe it's his personality/public comments (with a healthy dose of above-market contract)?

I remember him being offended by questions re Marshall taking his spot in the rotation, not referring to his pitching (which was equal to Marshall in ST), but suggesting he'd take a trade before he'd move to the bullpen. Now seems to be annoyed (and not motivated) by Lou's skipping him "to give him rest."

All-in-all comes off (to me at least) like he's entitled to his position, regardless of his performance. Or, it cd just be me.

I guess I shd just accept the (temporary)appearance of his doppleganger with a beer and a "Holy Cow."

Submitted by nohit
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 1:58pm

Nice that the Cubs had their stopper going today!

I soooo love it when the Cubs win an early game. You gotta think that demoralizes MKE a bit when they look at the scoreboard.

Submitted by billybucks
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 2:02pm

I thnk STL was demoralized a bit last night when they looked at their scoreboard and saw 12-0.

3 days in a row for Kerry -- looks like he saved his best for when it mattered the most.

I, for one, will miss the Pirates, particularly the version without Bay and Nady.

It has got to suck to be a kid who likes baseball and lives in Pittsburgh.

Submitted by champsummers
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 2:31pm

yeah, kinda like the way it sucked when I grew up in chicago. ;)

Submitted by billybucks
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 2:32pm

Hey, but you had the Bears.....ah, never mind.

Submitted by O.Julius
on Thu, 08/28/2008 - 8:40am

Yeah, but the Blackhaw... wait.

Submitted by nohit
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 2:42pm

Except that Chicago is a huge market, with the wherewithall to field a winner -- we simply had to hope that the owners, front office and scouts would get their heads out of their assesmake good decisions and eventually get the right talent on the field.

Pittsburgh? I don't know man. It's a proud baseball city, but it's really hard to see a light at the end of that tunnel.

My heart goes out to the fans of that team. They're living the kind of hell Cubs fans lived for years, and they have less reason to hope for better.

Submitted by champsummers
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 3:45pm

True.
But if Milwaukee and Minneapolis can do it, I have to think that Pittsburgh could too. Its just a question of ownership I guess.

btw, it seemed that the Pirates routinely whupped the Cubs in the 70s and 80s, and I believe took a couple WSs too.

So all those poor Pirate fans can get in line behind me!

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Thu, 08/28/2008 - 1:07am

And then you see they may not have signed their top draft pick:

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3556133

New cast, same story?

Submitted by nohit
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 2:28pm

Updating Cubnut's numbers after the game:

This Month:

Pitcher: GS | W-L | IP | H | ERA | AVG. GAME SCORE

Jason Marquis: 5 | 3-1 | 30 | 29 | 3.90 | 50

Carlos Zambrano: 5 | 1-1 | 26.2 | 31 | 7.43 | 39

Props to Jason, concern for Carlos.

Submitted by billybucks
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 2:31pm

Cubs have now won 13 of their last 14 road games.

"Holy Cow!" or "Hey! Hey!" or some such thing.

Submitted by blockhead25
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 2:52pm

Well, Cubs can go 2-27 and match last years division championship performance.

Something leads me to believe it will take more than 85 to win the division this year.

If Cubs go 8-21, Cards and Phils would need to go 18-11 to tie.
I like the Cubs chances of making the playoffs this year.

Submitted by nohit
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 3:08pm

FWIW, as of this morning (pre-game) in their "play the rest of the season a million times simulation", BP had the Cubs at a 99.46249% chance of making the playoffs, 88.42067% of winning the division.

Submitted by blockhead25
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 3:39pm

yup, I basically check out those playoff odds every day through the year. Obviously, I check out the ESPN ones to.

Yeah, if the Cubs don't make the playoffs, it will be a complete disaster. However, I believe the Mets were up above 99% last year and...while I'm not sure anyone tracked it, I'm sure the Angels were in 1995 (or whenever that was) when they had a 12 game lead over the Mariners in Mid August only to blow it and lose the tie-breaker game to Randy Johnson.

Submitted by Dmac
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 3:09pm

I'm old enough to remember when the Pirates were perenially near or at the top of the National League - teams that had Manny Sanguillen, Willie Stargell, Clemente and so many others. If they had proper management at the top, they could be very competitive. But Dave Littlefield wasn't the right guy, and did some damage for which they'll need some time to recover.

Submitted by nohit
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 3:14pm

They were even good as recently as the Killer B's years, but it seems like the finances of the game have evolved now to the point where it will be difficult to build a strong core of players there again.

No doubt that Littlefield made things worse than they had to be. Fortunately, the Cubs were able to benefit from some of his blundering.

Submitted by The Real Neal
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 3:36pm

The Killer B's were the Astros, weren't they?

Not sure if they brought enough high impact guys in in this years deals, but yeah, better than Littlefield did. You can only hope he and Dusty can hook up down the line to form a dynamic duo of crappy management somewhere in the NL Central.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 3:41pm

I assume he meant Bonds and Bonilla, but yeah, most people associate it with the Bagwell, Biggio, Bell, Berkman Astros.

Submitted by nohit
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 4:16pm

Yeah, Pittsburgh had the original Killer B's (as far as I know) in the early 90's. Bonds, Bonilla, Bream, Bell... Belliard & Backman, too, although their killer quotient is questionable. All those guys, plus Andy Van Slyke and Jeff King. Pretty solid team.

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 3:44pm

the finances were good enough to get them a new stadium. You can't use financial hardships as an excuse for 15+ years though.

Btw, wasn't Littlefield hired by the Cubs as a scout or something? 

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 3:50pm

here it is...

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=mlb&id...

I assume Hendry was tired losing at poker every week against the rest of the Cubs staff and needed someone around he could beat.

Submitted by demale
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 4:20pm

Unless I'm mistaken, the financing of PNC park by the public was engineered over their objections, which had been expressed through the rejection of a public referendum. Again perhaps mistaken, but the same true for Heinz field I believe.
Thus the understandable public disgust at the continued "unwillingness of Pirates ownership to field a winning ballclub" as if it is ever this formulaically simple.

As an adopted Pittsburgher now for eight years, IMHO the disillusionment with the team has reached a "steady state" and you're looking at the continuing model for "how to make a neat profit from MLB profit sharing" which isn't likely to change any time soon. The owners know they put a stinker on the field, but can now count on a finite but steady amount of ticket sales due to promotions and an increasing proportion of fans who turn out to see the OTHER TEAM. [Last night was no exception- easily majority vocal Cubs fans, even Santo commented on it today during the broadcast.] Add in the MLB cash to the predictable amount of red ink, and they're in the black to an extent they're apparently happy with?

When the season ticket sales and attendance continue to slide (as they have since the 2006 ASG) then ownership's response: this ain't coming out of our pockets, we're going "youth" and letting big payroll go.

Submitted by Doug Dascenzo
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 4:41pm

Regardless of payroll, if you have a losing record for 16 straight years, your front office is just awful. If you're drafting in the top 5 every single year, you should eventually get some impact players. And then if you can't pay them, you trade them for more young, impact players. That's where the Pirates have continually fucked up.

Trading a young, 36-homer 100 RBI Aramis for Bobby Freakin Hill is the perfect example, and I'm sure there have been plenty more I'm not aware of. Did they even get anyone decent for Bay? I'm sure in the next year or two they'll trade away McClouth for some shit too.

Submitted by Cubster
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 4:24pm

Btw, wasn't Littlefield hired by the Cubs as a scout or something?
------------
Rob, you hit that one out of the park!

Right now, as I type, there is a round of golf going on with Ed Lynch, Grady Little, Dave Littlefield and Hendry is fleecing ALL those bobo's out of their milk money.

two littles and a lynch...as Jack Brickhouse would say...whooooboy!

it's an honorary position I'm told, and they do have to wear Cub Scout uniforms for their golf outings.

http://www.scoutstuff.org/BSASupply/ItemDetail.asp...

Submitted by nohit
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 4:43pm

I heard that McClatchy eventually resorted to having a block put on Littlefield's phone to prevent Hendry's calls from getting through.

;-)

Submitted by Rob G.
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 7:04pm

that would be the greatest golf 4-some to ever watch...

Submitted by Chad
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 7:34pm

parachat for the screwers/fartinals anyone?

Submitted by rokfish
on Wed, 08/27/2008 - 11:19pm

personally i ike b. moss who came over in bay deal

alos whenever i here sister sledge

WE ARE FAMILY

i think of the 79 pirates stargell parker hebner
moreno sanguillen and so on

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