Gameday Open Thread

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Yes, the Washington Generals host the Harlem Globetrotters yet again.

The Cubs enter the game with an 8-1 record and 69-38 run differential this season against the Pirates. The lone loss occurred last Saturday at Wrigley Field, when these same two pitchers hooked up, and Zambrano, who has been so stellar in the first couple months of the campaign, went completely mental. Neither pitcher figured in the final decision, a 7-6 Pittsburgh win.

Tonight, Fukudome gets the night off, DeRosa moves to right, and Cedeño, who has hit Duke well (8-for-21), gets a start and gets to hit in front of DeRosa, who can't seem to hit at all on the road this year (11-for-62, .172, 530 OPS).

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After going five consecutive series without a series win, the Cubs will snag their fourth series in a row if they can upend the Houstons.

Lineup changes galore this evening--Theriot hits leadoff, Fukudome moves up to second, and Hoffpauir gets his first MLB start (in left, not as a replacement for Lee at first, as we expected).

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It appears that the Cubs have the edge in tonight's pitching matchup as Dempster continues his march to free agency. The Astros counter with Chris Sampson, who has fallen on some hard times since we last left him . He's given up five or more earned runs in four of
his last seven starts and his 6.46 ERA is enough to make
Jason Marquis blush.

But it seems the 30-year old saves his best against the Cubs... 

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The Cubs, winners of eight of ten, all at home, meet the Astros, winners of seven of ten, all on the road.

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On the heels of Saturday's loss to the Bucs and the unexpected appearance by Bad Carlos, the Cubs need a win to take this series from the Pirates and finish the homestand 8-2. Cedeño gets a start at shortstop and The Riot sits.

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Z's quest for the Cy Young continues as does the Cubs quest for the best record in baseball, just a game behind the Diamondbacks. They'll have to battle known Cub killer Zach Duke (10 GS, 4-3, 2.56 ERA, 36 K, 16 BB). They seemed to start solving that Rubik's Cube in the last start when they got to Duke for five earned runs in four innings.

Go Cubs! 

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A few interesting things about today's game. First, there's Sean Gallagher's gameday photo.

Demand a retake Sean, you're a big-leaguer now.

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If the Cubs can overcome old friend Greg Maddux--perhaps making his last start ever at Wrigley Field--and the negative energy surrounding the addition of our new centerfielder, they'll take three of four from the Padres and improve their record on the homestand to a dandy 6-1, with three against the Pirates yet to go.

This, by the way, would be the first Wrigley Field series the Cubs had captured from San DIego since 1999. I'm sure the Mickey Morandini, Quilvio Veras references will be all over the broadcast.

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Pepsi has merged with Coca-Cola. Batman has given the Joker the passcode to the Bat Cave. The Corleones have entered into a business partnership with Virgil "The Turk" Sollozzo.

And the Cubs are going to sign Jim Edmonds.

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Every once in awhile, a player that holds a special place in the hearts of Cubs fan comes back to Wrigley. And although they're wearing a different uniform, you can't help but root for them...

Oh wait, that's the beginning of Thursday's thread when Greg Maddux starts for the Padres. Today, it's Shawn Estes which most Cubs fans remember try to forget as the player who did his best to ruin the 2003 season. And just in case anyone thinks it wasn't that bad, here are his 2003 numbers:

8-11, 152.1 IP, 28 GS, 117 K, 105 BB, 5.73 ERA, 76 ERA+

But speaking of ugly numbers, the Cubs have Jason Marquis going.

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The struggling Padres roll into town, their league-worst offense versus the league's best. Yes, the Cubs do have the best offense in the league. Repeat. Enjoy. Savor. A look at the game notes that are chocked full of offensive goodness, shows that the Cubs lead the NL in OBP, 2nd in walks, first in runs scored (in the majors), and first in pitches seen per plate appearance. The Cubs are also tied for third in the NL with 10 come-from-behind victories. It's rather unique in my lifetime to have a good Cubs team and then look at the underlying numbers and realize that this is indeed a good Cubs team, and not a fluke. I'm not saying that the wheels might not come off at some point, I mean, they're one Carlos Zambrano arm injury from that happening, but I'll enjoy it while I can.

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The weather is bleak enough in Chicago to force both managers to change their starting pitchers for the game. Instead of the Big Unit vs Big Z, it's going to be Gallagher vs. Gonzalez. That is, if they get this in. The radar map actually looks like it should clear up relatively soon.

Either way, Z will be pushed back tomorrow. Let's hope he still breaks out the pink shoes and pink batting gloves when he does pitch.

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The Cubs go for their first series win in a few weeks and have already bucked their recent trend of dropping the first game, winning the second and then losing the rubber game. I look forward to the new trend of sweeping a couple series in a row.

Felix Pie must be on his way to Iowa as he's out of the lineup again versus a righty, losing playing time to a suddenly mortal Reed Johnson.

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"Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue."

— Steve McCroskey (Lloyd Bridges) in Airplane

 

Timing is everything, and for the Cubs to be playing like hell when the 23-12 Diamondbacks show up at their door, well, the timing could be better.

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