Gameday Open Thread
Game 32 Thread / Cubs @ Reds (1 of 3)
- Read more about Game 32 Thread / Cubs @ Reds (1 of 3)
- 58 comments
- Log in or register to post comments
Game 31 Thread / Cubs @ Cardinals (3 of 3)
- Read more about Game 31 Thread / Cubs @ Cardinals (3 of 3)
- 19 comments
- Log in or register to post comments
Game 30 Thread / Cubs @ Cardinals (2 of 3)
Game Chat | Press Pass | BR Preview
SP | *Ted Lilly |
SP |
Kyle Lohse |
1-4, 6.46, 25 K, 13 BB | 3-0, 2.36, 14 K, 8 BB | ||
LF |
Alfonso Soriano | LF |
*Skip Schumaker |
SS |
Ryan Theriot | 2B |
Brendan Ryan |
1B |
Derrek Lee | 1B |
Albert Pujols |
RF |
*Kosuke Fukudome | RF |
Ryan Ludwick |
3B |
Mark DeRosa | 3B |
Troy Glaus |
C |
Geovany Soto | CF |
*Rick Ankiel |
2B |
*Mike Fontenot | C |
Yadier Molina |
CF |
Reed Johnson | P |
Kyle Lohse |
P |
*Ted Lilly |
SS |
#Cesar Izturis |
Breaking News: The Cubs have demoted Rich Hill to AAA Iowa and replaced him on the roster with Sean Gallagher, who will be available to pitch this afternoon in St. Louis.
Of the now departed Hill and his one-inning, four-walk effort last night in St. Louis, Cubs manager Lou Piniella said:
"Hill can't start like this in the big leagues. C'mon. Every time he pitches, it's an adventure. He's doing his best, but we have no bullpen. I don't know what the solution is, but I can't start him anymore until this thing gets taken care of."
About this afternoon's game: With the stink of last night's loss still in the air, the Cubs try to square their series against the Cardinals. The Cards have won three in a row and five of six; the Cubs have lost six of eight. Still, the Cubs have MLB's third-best record, while the Cardinals, who better get to work if they're going to see that 90-loss season so many of us were planning for them, have the game's second-best mark at 19-11. (The D-backs lead the way at 20-9).
- Read more about Game 30 Thread / Cubs @ Cardinals (2 of 3)
- 37 comments
- Log in or register to post comments
Game 29 Thread / Cubs @ Cardinals (1 of 3)
Game Chat | Press Pass | BR Preview
SP | *Rich Hill |
SP |
Adam Wainwright |
1-0, 3.79, 14 K, 14 BB | 3-1, 2.79, 28 K, 9 BB | ||
LF |
Alfonso Soriano |
LF |
Brian Barton |
SS |
Ryan Theriot | CF |
*Rick Ankiel |
1B |
Derrek Lee | 1B |
Albert Pujols |
3B |
Aramis Ramirez | 3B |
Trou Glaus |
RF |
*Kosuke Fukudome | RF |
Ryan Ludwick |
2B |
Mark DeRosa | C |
Yadier Molina |
C | Geovany Soto |
SS |
#Cesar Izturis |
CF |
*Felix Pie |
C |
Adam Wainwright |
P | *Rich Hill | 2B | Brendan Ryan |
First place is on the line this weekend in St. Louis, as the rivals battle each other for the first time this year. The Cards expected to struggle, particularly early on in the season while their pitching staff got healthy, are on top of the division. Mostly thanks to a patient offense (lead the NL in walks) and a surprising pitching staff, particularly from Todd Wellemeyer and Kyle Lohse.
- Read more about Game 29 Thread / Cubs @ Cardinals (1 of 3)
- 60 comments
- Log in or register to post comments
Game 28 Thread / Brewers @ Cubs (3 of 3)
Game Chat | Press Pass | BR Preview
SP | Yovani Gallardo |
SP |
Carlos Zambrano |
0-0, 0.64, 9 K, 5 BB | 4-1, 2.21, 32 K, 9 BB | ||
2B |
Rickie Weeks | LF |
Alfonso Soriano |
CF |
Mike Cameron | SS |
Ryan Theriot |
LF |
Ryan Braun | 1B |
Derrek Lee |
1B |
*Prince Fielder | 3B |
Aramis Ramirez |
RF |
Corey Hart | RF |
*Kosuke Fukudome |
3B |
Bill Hall | 2B |
Mark DeRosa |
SS |
*Craig Counsell | C |
Geovany Soto |
P |
Yovani Gallardo | CF |
Reed Johnson |
C | Jason Kendall |
P | #Carlos Zambrano |
Fonzie returns to the lineup as the Cubs go for 2-of-3 against the Brewers and try to grab some momentum heading into big road series in Saint Loo and Cincinnati.
- Read more about Game 28 Thread / Brewers @ Cubs (3 of 3)
- 93 comments
- Log in or register to post comments
Game 27 Thread / Brewers @ Cubs (2 of 3)
Game Chat | Press Pass | BR Preview
SP | Jeff Suppan |
SP |
Ryan Dempster |
1-0, 3.48, 11 K, 10 BB | 3-0, 2.90, 21 K, 14 BB | ||
2B |
Rickie Weeks | LF |
Reed Johnson |
CF |
Mike Cameron | SS |
Ryan Theriot |
LF |
Ryan Braun | 1B |
Derrek Lee |
1B |
*Prince Fielder | 3B |
Aramis Ramirez |
RF |
Corey Hart | RF |
*Kosuke Fukudome |
3B |
Bill Hall | 2B |
Mark DeRosa |
SS |
JJ Hardy | C |
Geovany Soto |
P |
Jeff Suppan | CF |
*Felix Pie |
C | Jason Kendall |
P | Ryan Dempster |
The Cubs are one loss from dropping out of first place behind the Cardinals and into a second place tie with the Brewers. A loss would also give the Cubs their first real losing streak of the season (I start counting at three) and they'd lose a second consecutive series to their main competition for the Central crown. So yeah, today would certainly be a nice day for a win.
Dempster will take to the mound to try and help accomplish that and he did start the one lone victory in the opening series. We'lll happily take another six inning, two walk, five strikeout, one earned run performance if you have it in you. He hasn't had a lot of experience versus the members of the current Brewers (possibly the reason for his last success), but do watch out for Jason Kendall who's 13 for 28 versus Dempster for a 464/583/536 line.
- Read more about Game 27 Thread / Brewers @ Cubs (2 of 3)
- 34 comments
- Log in or register to post comments
Game 26 Thread / Brewers @ Cubs (1 of 3)
Game Chat | Press Pass | BR Preview
SP | Ben Sheets |
SP |
Jason Marquis |
3-0, 0.96, 24 K, 4 BB | 1-0, 3.47, 15 K, 9 BB | ||
2B |
Rickie Weeks | LF |
Reed Johnson |
CF |
Mike Cameron | SS |
Ryan Theriot |
LF |
Ryan Braun | 1B |
Derrek Lee |
1B |
*Prince Fielder | 3B |
Aramis Ramirez |
RF |
Corey Hart | RF |
*Kosuke Fukudome |
3B |
Bill Hall | 2B |
Mark DeRosa |
SS |
JJ Hardy | C |
Geovany Soto |
P |
Ben Sheets | CF |
*Felix Pie |
C | Jason Kendall |
P | *Jason Marquis |
No, you're not imagining things--this is the Brewers' second visit to Wrigley Field in the season's first month while the Cubs have yet to visit Milwaukee and won't do so until after the All-Star break.
While the Cubs (16-9) were losing two of three on the road to the Nationals and scoring 10 runs this past weekend, the Brewers (14-11) were dropping two of three at home to the Marlins and scoring six runs. The Brewers, who led the NL in batting with RISP (.303) going into the series, went just 1-for-26 against the Marlins in those same situations.
- Read more about Game 26 Thread / Brewers @ Cubs (1 of 3)
- 18 comments
- Log in or register to post comments
Game 25 Thread / Cubs @ Nationals (3 of 3)
- Read more about Game 25 Thread / Cubs @ Nationals (3 of 3)
- 16 comments
- Log in or register to post comments
Game 24 Thread / Cubs @ Nationals (2 of 3)
Game Chat | Press Pass | BR Preview
SP | Carlos Zambrano |
SP |
*Matt Chico |
3-1, 2.67, 27 K, 5 BB | 0-4, 6.04, 17 K, 10 BB | ||
CF |
Reed Johnson |
2B |
#Felipe Lopez |
SS |
Ryan Theriot | SS |
#Cristian Guzman |
1B |
Derrek Lee | 3B |
Ryan Zimmerman |
3B |
Aramis Ramirez | 1B |
*Nick Johnson |
RF |
*Kosuke Fukudome | CF |
Lastings Milledge |
LF |
Mark DeRosa | RF |
Austin Kearns |
C | Geovany Soto |
C |
#Johnny Estrada |
2B |
Ronny Cedeno | LF |
Wily Mo Peña |
P | #Carlos Zambrano | P | *Matt Chico |
And so it falls to Cub ace Carlos Zambrano on this, Hack Wilson's 108th birthday, to reverse the curse:
The Chicago Cubs have never won a game in Washington's Natonals Park. For the love of God, they've never even held a lead!!!
The Chicago offense went hitless in seven AB's with men in scoring position in Friday night's 5-3 defeat. Ryan Theriot, however, was able to extend his National League lead in Caught Stealing.
- Read more about Game 24 Thread / Cubs @ Nationals (2 of 3)
- 18 comments
- Log in or register to post comments
Game 23 Thread / Cubs @ Nationals (1 of 3)
Game Chat | Press Pass | BR Preview
SP | Ryan Dempster |
SP |
*Odalis Perez |
3-0, 3.00, 16K, 11 BB | 0-3, 3.38, 20 K, 12 BB | ||
CF |
Reed Johnson |
2B |
#Felipe Lopez |
SS |
Ryan Theriot | SS |
#Cristian Guzman |
1B |
Derrek Lee | 3B |
Ryan Zimmerman |
3B |
Aramis Ramirez | 1B |
*Nick Johnson |
RF |
*Kosuke Fukudome | CF |
Lastings Milledge |
LF |
Mark DeRosa | C |
#Johnny Estrada |
C | Geovany Soto |
LF |
Wily Mo Peña |
2B |
Ronny Cedeno | RF |
*Rob Mackowiak |
P | Ryan Dempster | P | *Odalis Perez |
WIth tonight's first-ever visit to Nationals Park, the Cubs will have played in three different cities in three different time zones, necessitating somewhere around 2,700 miles in air travel, all in a little over 72 hours. Gotta love those schedule gremlins.
Even with yesteday's loss to the Rockies, the first-place Cubs have won 8 of 10. After opening the season 3-0, the fifth-place Nationals, who needed 13 hits against the Mets on Thursday to raise their team average to .233, have lost 16 of 20.
- Read more about Game 23 Thread / Cubs @ Nationals (1 of 3)
- 9 comments
- Log in or register to post comments
Recent comments
Arizona Phil (view)
18-year old SS Jefferson Rojas almost made the AA Tennessee Opening Day roster, and he is a legit shortstop, so I would expect him to be an MLB Top 100 prospect by mid-season.
Arizona Phil (view)
Among the relievers in the system, I expect RHRP Hunter Bigge at AAA Iowa and RHRP Ty Johnson at South Bend to have breakout seasons on 2024, and among the starters I see LHP Drew Gray and RHP Will Sanders at South Bend and RHP Naz Mule at ACL Cubs as the guys who will make the biggest splash. Also, Jaxon Wiggins is throwing bullpen sides, so once he is ready for game action he could be making an impact at Myrtle Beach by June.
Arizona Phil (view)
I expect OF Christian Franklin to have a breakout season at AA Tennessee in 2024. In another organization that doesn't have PCA, Caissie, K. Alcantara, and Canario in their system, C. Franklin would be a Top 10 prospect.
Arizona Phil (view)
The Reds trading Joe Boyle for Sam Moll at last year's MLB Trade Deadline was like the Phillies trading Ben Brown to the Cubs for David Robertson at the MLB TD in 2022.
Arizona Phil (view)
Javier Assad started the Lo-A game (Myrtle Beach versus Stockton) on the Cubs backfields on Wednesday as his final Spring Training tune-up. He was supposed to throw five innings / 75 pitches. However, I was at the minor league road games at Fitch so I didn't see Assad pitch.
crunch (view)
cards put j.young on waivers.
they really tried to make it happen this spring, but he put up a crazy bad slash of .081/.244/.108 in 45PA.
Childersb3 (view)
Seconded!!!
crunch (view)
another awesome spring of pitching reports. thanks a lot, appreciated.
Arizona Phil (view)
Here are the Cubs pitchers reports from Tuesday afternoon's Cardinals - Cubs game art Sloan Park in Mesa:
SHOTA IMANAGA:
FB: 90-92
CUT: 87-89
SL: 82-83
SPLIT: 81-84
CV: 73-74
COMMENT: Worked three innings plus two batters in the fourth... allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits (six singles and two doubles) walked one, and struck out six (four swinging), with a 1/2 GO/AO... he threw 73 pitches (52 strikes - 10 swing & miss - 19 foul balls)... surrendered one run in the top of the 1st on a one-out double off Cody Bellinger's glove in deep straight-away CF followed one out later by two consecutive two-out bloop singles, allowed two runs (one earned) in the 2nd after retiring the first two hitters (first batter had a nine-pitch AB with four consecutive two-strike foul balls before being retired 3 -U) on a two-out infield single (weak throw on the run by Nico Hoerner), a hard-contact line drive RBI double down the RF line, and an E-1 (missed catch) by Imanaga on what should been an inning-ending 3-1 GO, gave up another run in the 3rd on a two-out walk on a 3-2 pitch and an RBI double to LF, and two consecutive singles leading off the top of the 4th before being relieved (runners were ultimately left stranded)... threw 18 pitches in the 1st inning (14 strikes - two swing & miss, one on FB and the other on a SL - four foul balls), 24 pitches in the 2nd inning (17 strikes - three swing & miss, one on FB, two SPLIT - six foul balls), 19 pitches in the 3rd inning (13 strikes - seven swing & miss, three on SL, two on SPLIT, one on FB - three foul balls), and 12 pitches without retiring a batter in the top of the 4th (8 strikes - no swing & miss - four foul balls)... Imanaga throws a lot of pitches per inning, but it's not because he doesn't throw strikes... if anything, he throws too many strikes (he threw 70% strikes on Tuesday)... while he gets a ton of swing & miss (and strikeouts), he also induces a lot of foul balls because he doesn't try to make hitters chase his pitches by throwing them out of the strike zone... rather, he uses his very diverse pitch mix to get swing & miss (and lots of foul balls as well)... he also is a fly ball pitcher who will give up more than his share of HR during the course of the season...
JOE NAHAS:
FB: 90-92
SL: 83-85
CV: 80-81
COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day... relieved Imanaga with runners at first and second and no outs in the top of the 4th, and after an E-2 catcher's interference committed by Miguel Amaya loaded he bases, Nahas struck out the side (one swinging & two looking)... threw 16 pitches (11 strikes - two swinging)...
YENCY ALMONTE:
FB: 89-92
CH: 86
SL: 79
COMMENT: Threw an eight-pitch 5th (five strikes - no swing & miss), with a 5-3 GO for the first out and an inning-ending 4-6-3 DP after a one-out single... command was a bit off but he worked through it...
FRANKIE SCALZO JR:
FB: 94-95
CH: 88
SL: 83
COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 6th inning... got the first outs easily (a P-5 and a 4-3 GO) on just three pitches, before allowing three consecutive two-out hard-contact hits (a double and two singles), with the third hit on pitch # 9 resulting in a runner being thrown out at the plate by RF Christian Franklin for the third out of the inning...
MICHAEL ARIAS:
FB: 94-96
CH: 87-89
SL: 82-83
COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and allowed a hard-contact double on the third pitch of the 7th inning (a 96 MPH FB), and the runner came around to score on a 4-3 GO and a WP... gave up two other loud contact outs (an L-7 and an F-9)... threw 18 pitches (only 10 strikes - only one swing & miss)... stuff is electric but still very raw and he continues to have difficulty commanding it, and while he has the repertoire of a SP, he throws too many pitches-per-inning to be a SP and not enough strikes to be a closer... he is most definitely still a work-in-progress...
ZAC LEIGH:
FB: 93-94
CH: 89
SL: 81-83
CV: 78
COMMENT: Was called up from the AA Tennessee group at Minor League Camp for the day and tossed a 1-2-3 8th (4-3 GO, K-swinging on a sweeper, K-looking on another sweeper)... threw 14 pitches (11 strikes - one swing & miss - eight foul balls)... kept pumping pitches into the strike zone but had difficulty putting hitters away (ergo a ton of foul balls)... FB velo is nowhere near the 96-98 MPH it was a couple of years ago when he was a Top 30 prospect, but his secondaries are better...
JOSE ROMERO:
FB: 93-95
SL: 82-84
COMMENT: Was called up from the Hi-A South Bend group at Minor League Camp for the day and worked the 9th (14 pitches - only six strikes- no swing & miss) and allowed a solo HR after two near-HR fly outs to the warning track, before getting a 3-1 GO to end the inning... it was like batting practice when he wasn't throwing pitches out of the strike zone...
crunch (view)
pablo sandoval played 3rd and got a couple ABs (strikeout, single!) in the OAK@SF "exhibition"
mlb officially authenticated the ball of the single he hit. nice.
he's in surprisingly good shape considering his poor body condition in his last playing seasons. he's not lean, but he looks healthier. good for him.