Video Game Baseball
GAME 122 IN-GAME DISCUSSION THREAD [PARACHAT]
CHICAGO CUBS (59-62) @ COLORADO ROCKIES (45-76)
COORS FIELD, 4:05 pm CDT, TV: CSN, Fox Sports Rocky Mountain
Games at Coors Field always make me think of video game baseball. It seems playing here is like playing one of EA's video games on the Rookie Level, where you could hit a HR pretty much anytime you needed it. Just push up on the joystick and swing, Voila, 3 run blast!
To keep the optimism going around here, I took a look at the Cubs upcoming schedule. Here's a quick breakdwon:
4 Game Series(3): @SFG, vs. St. Louis, @Houston
3 Game Series(9): @Colorado, vs. Atlanta, vs. Florida, vs. LAD, @Pitt, @St. Louis, vs. Cincy, @Milwaukee, vs. Houston
2 Game Series(1): vs. Pitt
So what do you think the Cubs have to do? I'm still going with 88-90 wins as the benchmark and a little help from our friends. So, if the Cubs win EVERY series from here on out, they'll reach 88 wins. Easy enough, right? Here's how it would work:
Take 3 of 4 in all 4 game series: 3*3 = 9 wins
Take 2 of 3 in all 3 game series 2*9 = 18 wins
Sweep the Pitt series at home: 2*1 = 2 wins
Grand total of 29 wins against 12 losses for a final record of 88-74. That sounds possible, right? Especially if you ignore the fact that we've lost series' to the D'Backs, Reds and Brewers already this year. Just imagine if it comes down to the last week of the season and we need to sweep Pittsburgh and suffer another letdown like last year versus the Reds....OH THE HUMANITY!!
As for this Rockies team, they're just awful and the Cubs could give themselves a leg up with a sweep. The Rockies rank 10th in Runs Scored in the NL(despite playing in the baseball equivalent of zero gravity), 16th in ERA and Runs Allowed (that would be dead last) and last in defensive efficiency as well. And every time I belittle a Cub opponent they end up rocking us, so time for some reverse psychology.
Beware the Rockies! This is the type of team and game the Cubs have messed up all year. Playing down to our competition is the phrase, I believe. Stop it! For a poor Rockie team, they do have a couple of hot hitters...
Last 7 days:
Todd Helton: 11/24 .458 AVG
Luis Gonzalez: 6/17 .353
Matt Holliday: 8/23 .348
Aaron Miles: 5/16 .313
J.D. Closser: 3/10 .300
Dustan Mohr: 5/17 .294
Plus Prios has been very un-Prioresque since his return from the DL, which of course was due to getting hit by a line drive from Colorado's Brad Hawpe. No fear of deja vu¥though, as Hawpe is currently on the DL. Since Prior's return from the DL on June 26th, his line looks like this:
4-3 3.85 ERA/70 IP/30 ER/21 BB/68 K/11 HR
Not bad...certainly not the ace stuff we expect though. Unfortunately we can't move the game to Yankee Stadium as Byung-Hyun Kim is on the mound for the Rockies. He can be nasty versus the righties (career .204 BAA/ season .256 BAA) and quite hittable verus the lefties (career .241 BAA/season .302 BAA). The Cubs have 5 lefties in the lineup today.
Speaking of the lineup, here's some more proof why the Cubs shouldn't resign Nomar for next season. You risk more opportunities of Neifi Perez batting sixth for you.
Knock a few out Cubbies and let's get back to .500. Go Cubs!!!
Byung-Hyun Kim, RHP 3-9, 5.33 ERA 82/50 K/BB, 10 HR in 103.0 IP |
Mark Prior, RHP 8-4, 3.70 ERA 130/39 K/BB, 20 HR in 119.1 IP |
LF *Matt Lawton | 2B Luis Gonzalez |
2B *Todd Walker | RF *Jorge Piedra |
1B Derrek Lee | LF Matt Holliday |
3B Aramis Ramirez | 1B *Todd Helton |
RF *Jeromy Burnitz | 3B Garrett Atkins |
SS #Neifi Perez | CF *Larry Bigbie |
CF *Corey Patterson | C Danny Ardoin |
C Henry Blanco | SS *Omar Quintanilla |
P Mark Prior | P Byung-Hun Kim |
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