Image
Unoffensive
GAME 41 PREVIEW
CHICAGO WHITE SOX (31-12) at CHICAGO CUBS (18-22)
Wrigley Field, 2.20pm CT, TV: WGN
The Cubs have managed just two runs total in the first six innings of their last four games. That simply isn't a recipe for winning a lot of games, and it puts a tremendous pressure upon the the pitching staff and the defence behind them. Zambrano yesterday was simply masterful, and given his seven shutout inning performance, the Cubs should have been in a position in the game where they could afford the odd defensive mistake. A lack of offence though and Corey Patterson's prematurely closed mitt, after fantastic hustle and pace to make the ball playable at all, cost the Cubs dear. These bats simply have to wake up if the Cubs are going to win a decent number of games. Either that, or Mark Prior and co will have to throw a perfect game. Either way, or both.
Today the Cubs get to see a major league debutant on the mound for the Chicago White Sox. Brandon McCarthy was the minor league strikeout leader last year, having a fantastic campaign in the Southern League (Double-A). Though he hadn't quite been at his best so far this year in Triple-A, he did have a fantastic Spring Training with the Sox, looking so dominating that the White Sox seemed to have few qualms about inserting him into their rotation to start the year when it seemed Mark Buerhle would miss time. Buerhle's injury wasn't as serious as first feared though, so McCarthy's had to wait, but he now gets his shot while El Duque takes his annual trip to the disabled list. Hopefully those Cub bats can say "welcome to the big leagues, kid, we do things differently here".
While the Cubs are labouring against the best team in baseball, the St Louis Cardinals are beating upon the worst, the Kansas City Royals, and the rest of their interleague schedule is undisputedly easier too. While with the way the Cubs are playing this year this probably will prove to be irrelevant, major league baseball really needs to look into ensuring a more balanced and fairer schedule in future.
[ruz] I'm in Harrisburg PA right now, looking at houses (we found one!) so I've had to follow the Cubs solely online, here and at Exile in Wrigleyville. It hasn't been fun, but luckily Vince hasn't rubbed it in my face too much. There hasn't been a cross-town sweep since 1999, so hopefully Prior can prevent that!
| SP Mark Prior | SP Brandon McCarthy |
| LF *Scott Podsednik | 2B Jerry Hairston |
| 2B Tadahito Iguchi | SS #Neifi Perez |
| CF Aaron Rowand | 1B Derrek Lee |
| 1B Paul Konerko | RF *Jeromy Burnitz |
| C *AJ Pierzynski | 3B Aramis Ramirez |
| RF Jermaine Dye | CF *Corey Patterson |
| SS Juan Uribe | LF Jason Dubois |
| 3B Joe Crede | C Henry Blanco |
| Pitcher's spot | Pitcher's spot |
Comments