Cure for the Common Offense
GAME 119 IN-GAME DISCUSSION THREAD [PARACHAT]
CHICAGO CUBS (57-61) @ HOUSTON ASTROS (63-54)
MINUTE MAID PARK, 7:05 pm CDT, TV: CSN, Fox Sports SouthWest
Wow, this is the lineup of the team leading the wild card hunt. I guess pitching and defense can get you a long way. For the eternal optimists out there who still think we have a shot at making the playoffs, I think it's fair to say we have to sweep the Astros this series. We'll play them a grand total of 10 times before the season is out, but I doubt we'll be as lucky as to miss Roger Clemens in those 2 series at the end of September. And if you can't beat a fella named Wandy, you have no business in the playoffs anyway.
I like this lineup a lot, which generally means that run scoring will be minimal. It's always a good idea though to load your lineup with righties when playing at The Juice Box and the super-short left field porch it houses. We'll see the good southpaw on the Astros in Andy Pettitte tomorrow, so it'll be another chance to load up the lineup with righties. I wonder if Murton will get a start in both games, spelling Burnitz tomorrow instead of Lawton. Some doozy pitching matchups after tonight as well, at least when you look at the names. Pettitte vs. Maddux tomorrow and Zambrano vs Oswalt on Wednesday.
If the Cubs offense can't get going playing here and then Coors Stadium, there's nothing that will cure it. If anything, we can begin to play the role of spoiler and spoiling the Astros post-season hopes sure would be fun. Go Cubs!!!
Wandy Rodriguez LHP 7-5, 6.18 ERA 57/34 K/BB, 14 HR in 78.2 IP |
Glendon Rusch, LHP 5-4, 3.98 ERA 77/40 K/BB, 9 HR in 97.1 IP |
LF Matt Murton | CF Wily Taveras |
2B *Todd Walker | 2B Craig Biggio |
1B Derrek Lee | 1B #Lance Berkman |
3B Aramis Ramirez | 3B Morgan Ensberg |
SS Nomar Garciaparra | RF Jason Lane |
C Michael Barrett | SS Adam Everett |
RF *Jeromy Burnitz | LF Chris Burke |
CF * Corey Patterson | C Humberto Quintero |
P *Glendon Rusch | P #Wandy Rodriguez |
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