Cubnut's Archives
Game 141 Thread / Cubs @ Reds (1 of 3)
Game Chat | Press Pass | BR Preview
SP | *Ted Lilly | SP | Bronson Arroyo |
13-8, 4.23, 160 K, 57 BB, 174.2 IP | 13-10, 4.97, 137 K, 57 BB, 166.2 IP | ||
LF | Alfonso Soriano | CF | *Chris Dickerson |
SS | Ryan Theriot | SS | Jeff Keppinger |
1B | Derrek Lee | 2B | Brandon Phillips |
3B | Aramis Ramirez | 1B | *Joey Votto |
2B | Mark DeRosa | 3B | Edwin Encarnacion |
CF | *Jim Edmonds | RF | *Jay Bruce |
C | Geovany Soto | LF | Jolbert Cabrera |
RF | *Kosuke Fukudome | C | Ryan Hanigan |
P | *Ted Lilly | P | Bronson Arroyo |
That well-known rabble-rouser, Mark Sheldon of mlb.com, is billing this series as a showdown between NL Rookie of the Year candidates Geovany Soto and Joey Votto.
Actually, I don't know anything about Mark Sheldon's rabble-rousing, but the comparison is not entirely off-base:
- Read more about Game 141 Thread / Cubs @ Reds (1 of 3)
- 48 comments
- Log in or register to post comments
"Stephen Gryzlo"? We Have No Idea Who You're Talking About
Out of concern for the mental health of the many Cub fans who regularly populate The Cub Reporter, the authors request that, until further notice, visitors please refrain from using the following words or phrases anywhere on or near the site:
Game 139 Thread / Astros @ Cubs (2 of 3)
Game Chat | Press Pass | BR Preview
SP | Brandon Backe | SP | Carlos Zambrano |
9-12, 5.42, 122 K, 72 BB, 159.1 IP | 13-5, 3.53, 114 K, 61 BB, 168.1 IP | ||
CF | *Michael Bourn | LF | Alfonso Soriano |
LF | Ty Wigginton | 2B | *Mike Fontenot |
SS | Miguel Tejada | 1B | Derrek Lee |
1B | #Lance Berkman | 3B | Aramis Ramirez |
3B | #Geoff Blum | RF | Mark DeRosa |
RF | Hunter Pence | CF | *Jim Edmonds |
2B | *David Newhan | C | Geovany Soto |
C | Humberto Quintero | SS | Ryan Theriot |
P | Brandon Backe | P | #Carlos Zambrano |
While Cub fans are hoping that the team's bats will come back to life (no EBH's among the club's last 27 hits), the greater concern right now is with Carlos Zambrano.
All Cubdom would like to see that the two extra days of rest Zambrano got when his scheduled Sunday start was pushed back to this evening have proven beneficial to his "fatigued" "dead" tired arm. If nothing else, in the span of those two days, the calendar turned from August to September.
- Read more about Game 139 Thread / Astros @ Cubs (2 of 3)
- 76 comments
- Log in or register to post comments
Game 137 Thread / Phillies @ Cubs (4 of 4)
Game Chat | Press Pass | BR Preview
SP | *Jamie Moyer |
SP | *Sean Marshall |
11-7, 3.81, 102 K, 50 BB, 160.2 IP |
3-3, 3.52, 43 K, 13 BB, 46 IP |
||
SS | #Jimmy Rollins | LF |
Alfonso Soriano |
2B | *Chase Utley | CF |
Reed Johnson |
LF | Pat Burrell |
1B |
Derrek Lee |
1B | *Ryan Howard |
3B |
Aramis Ramirez |
CF | #Shane Victorino |
2B |
Mark DeRosa |
RF |
Jayson Werth | C |
Geovany Soto |
3B |
Pedo Feliz | RF |
*Kosuke Fukudome |
C |
Carlos Ruiz |
SS |
Ronny Cedeno |
P | *Jamie Moyer |
P | *Sean Marshall |
Carlos Zambrano was scheduled to start Sunday for the Cubs, but Z and his dead arm ("muscle fatigue in his triceps," according to the Cubs) are going to skip a turn. WSCR also reported this morning that Rich Harden, whose velocity was markedly down against the Phillies on Friday, will skip his next turn, meaning he won't pitch until sometime after the Houston series. Can I say it? Oy, oy, oy. (Nice to have an 11-game lead in the Wild Card race, however.)
- Read more about Game 137 Thread / Phillies @ Cubs (4 of 4)
- 48 comments
- Log in or register to post comments
Game 134 Thread / Phillies @ Cubs (1 of 4)
Game Chat | Press Pass | BR Preview
SP | *Cole Hamels | SP | Ryan Dempster |
11-8, 3.20, 162 K, 43 BB, 188.2 IP | 15-5, 2.85, 153 K, 65 BB, 170.2 IP | ||
SS | #Jimmy Rollins | LF | Alfonso Soriano |
2B | *Chase Utley | SS | Ryan Theriot |
LF | Pat Burrell | 1B | Derrek Lee |
1B | *Ryan Howard | 3B | Aramis Ramirez |
CF | #Shane Victorino | C | Geovany Soto |
RF | Jayson Werth | CF | Reed Johnson |
3B | Pedro Feliz | RF | *Kosuke Fukudome |
C | Carlos Ruiz | 2B | Mark DeRosa |
P | *Cole Hamels | P | Ryan Dempster |
The Cubs and Phillies play the first game in Major League history in which the umpires—or at least the crew chief—will have the option to summon an instant replay to assist a call. (The Rangers/Angels and Twins/A's games starting later Thursday will also be replay-enabled; umpires at all games will be onboard starting Friday.) The reviewable plays will be limited to potential home runs, i.e., fair or foul, over the fence or in play, fan interference or not.
Cubs manager Lou Piniella thinks it's all just a grand idea:
"This is not going to work. I shouldn't say it's not going to work, but this could turn into a little bit of a fiasco initially."
Anyhow, having beaten our boys twice (and nearly three times) in a three-game series in Philadelphia back in April, the Philles begin this four-game set as the only NL team with a lead in their season series against the Cubs.
- Read more about Game 134 Thread / Phillies @ Cubs (1 of 4)
- 51 comments
- Log in or register to post comments
Game 133 Thread / Cubs @ Pirates (3 of 3)
Game Chat | Press Pass | BR Preview
SP | Jason Marquis | SP | *Zach Duke |
8-7, 4.76, 71 K, 52 BB, 134.1 IP | 4-12, 5.29, 72 K, 42 BB, 151.1 IP | ||
LF | Alfonso Soriano | RF | *Nyjer Morgan |
SS | Ryan Theriot | SS | Jack Wilson |
1B | Derrek Lee | CF | *Nate McLouth |
3B | Aramis Ramirez | 1B | *Adam LaRoche |
CF | Reed Johnson | LF | *Brandon Moss |
RF | Mark DeRosa | 2B | Freddy Sanchez |
2B | Ronny Cedeno | 3B | Andy LaRoche |
C | Henry Blanco | C | Raul Chavez |
P | *Jason Marquis | P | *Zach Duke |
The Cubs go for the sweep, and once again I am reminded that I don't know how to add Rob's broom graphic to the game results box at the top of the right-hand column. I'll make you a deal, Jason Marquis: you win the game, and I'll work on the broom.
- Read more about Game 133 Thread / Cubs @ Pirates (3 of 3)
- 49 comments
- Log in or register to post comments
Game 131 Thread / Cubs @ Pirates (1 of 3)
Game Chat | Press Pass | BR Preview
SP | *Ted Lilly | SP | Jeff Karstens |
12-7, 4.25, 148 K, 56 W, 161 IP | 2-2, 2.25, 11 K, 8 W, 28 IP | ||
LF | Alfonso Soriano | CF | *Nate McLouth |
SS | Ryan Theriot | 2B | Freddy Sanchez |
1B | Derrek Lee | C | #Ryan Doumit |
3B | Aramis Ramirez | 1B | *Adam LaRoche |
CF | *Jim Edmonds | RF | Jason Michaels |
2B | Mark DeRosa | LF | *Brandon Moss |
RF | *Kosuke Fukudome | 3B | Andy LaRoche |
C | Geovany Soto | SS | Jack Wilson |
P | *Ted Lilly | P | Jeff Karstens |
The Cubs open a three-game set at PNC Park, concluding their 9-game stretch against the Reds, Nationals, and Pirates before they resume play against Major League opposition. (Yes, I'm tempting fate: Friday's smug game preview was just a preamble to an ugly 13-5 loss to the Nats, but 30 games over .500, I'm feeling smug all over again.)
Coming off a tough luck defeat in which he held the Reds hitless for the first 5 innings and wound up yielding just 2 hits in 7 IP, Lily has reduced his ERA to a season-low 4.25.The lefty has given the Cubs Quality Starts in 8 of his last 10 turns, and that defeat to Cincinnati was his first after five consecutive W's.
This will mark Lilly's fourth start of the year against the Bucs. He's 1-0, 5.63 in the three previous starts, with a butt-ugly 8.38 ERA in his two outings at PNC.
- Read more about Game 131 Thread / Cubs @ Pirates (1 of 3)
- 44 comments
- Log in or register to post comments
kcab si yaraC yrraH (That's "Harry Caray is back," spelled backwards)
Years before most of the English-speaking world was convinced it could do a passable Harry Caray impression, Jim Volkman was a regular on Chicago radio and had established himself as the master Harry mimic.
Well, Harry (Jim) is back now, at 1908worldchampions.com, where he recently started a game-by-game commentary on the Cubs season, with assistance from two other great voices from the Cubs past, who, like Caray, happen to be dead: Jack Brickhouse and Lou Boudreau.
Game 128 Thread / Nationals @ Cubs (1 of 3)
Game Chat | Press Pass | BR Preview
SP | *John Lannan |
SP | Jason Marquis |
6-12, 3.81, 89 K, 54 W, 141.2 IP |
8-7, 4.67, 68 K, 49 W, 129 IP |
||
2B |
#Emilio Bonificio | LF |
Alfonso Soriano |
SS | #Cristian Guzman |
SS | Ryan Theriot |
3B |
Ryan Zimmerman |
1B |
Derrek Lee |
CF |
Lastings Milledge |
3B |
Aramis Ramirez |
1B | Ronnie Belliard |
CF |
Reed Johnson |
RF | *Ryan Langerhans |
C |
Geovany Soto |
LF | *Willie Harris |
RF | Mark DeRosa |
C | Wil Nieves |
2B |
Ronny Cedeno |
P | *John Lannan |
P | *Jason Marquis |
Weather note: As of 12:40, it's pouring in the western suburbs, with storms on their way to the city. Could be a rain delay in our future.
The Cubs advance to the next course in the all-meatball buffet, following their series against the Reds with three against the 45-83 Nationals starting today, before moving on to Pittsburgh.
- Read more about Game 128 Thread / Nationals @ Cubs (1 of 3)
- 71 comments
- Log in or register to post comments
Game 127 Thread / Reds @ Cubs (3 of 3)
- Read more about Game 127 Thread / Reds @ Cubs (3 of 3)
- 94 comments
- Log in or register to post comments
Harden, C.C., and Sut
Rich Harden's brilliant effort Tuesday night followed yet another complete-game win for the second-place Brewers' C.C. Sabathia the evening before.
Through last night's play, here is what Harden and Sabathia have done for their NL Central teams, alongside the contribution of another mid-season acquisition, who, once upon a time, made a huge impact when he joined the Cubs from the American League:
GS | CG | IP |
H |
K |
BB | ERA |
W | L | |
C.C. Sabathia |
9 |
5 | 73 |
60 |
69 |
15 |
1.60 |
8 |
0 |
Rich Harden |
7 | 0 |
42 |
26 |
59 |
14 | 1.50 | 3 |
1 |
Rick Sutcliffe (thru 8/19/84) |
13 | 1 |
94 |
87 |
93 |
32 |
3.26 | 11 |
1 |
(Note: Sabathia's first start for the Brewers was on July 8, Harden's Cub debut was on July 12, and Sutcliffe's first game for the Cubs was on June 19, 1984.
Thoughts after the jump...
- Read more about Harden, C.C., and Sut
- 67 comments
- Log in or register to post comments
Game 124 Thread / Cubs @ Marlins (3 of 3)
- Read more about Game 124 Thread / Cubs @ Marlins (3 of 3)
- 93 comments
- Log in or register to post comments
Game 122 Thread / Cubs @ Marlins (1 of 3)
- Read more about Game 122 Thread / Cubs @ Marlins (1 of 3)
- 20 comments
- Log in or register to post comments
I Can't Wait for Derrek Lee to Punch Sean Marshall in the Mouth
Wednesday night the Brewers won their 8th consecutive game, and the consensus is that the streak grew directly out of the dugout shoving match-turned-public apology involving Prince Fielder and Manny Parra. (Note to consensus: the fact that the Brewers have been playing the Nats and the Padres might also be a contributing factor.)
The Cubs have been doing just fine, thank you—7 consecutive road wins,11 victories in 14 games overall, maintaining a 3 1/2-game lead in the NL Central—but still, it's nice to know that we could conjure an 8-game run whenever we needed it simply by initiating a little Cub-on-Cub action.
Hell, it's not like we don't have the boys with backgrounds in intramural brawling: Lou Piniella (grappled with Rob Dibble to a draw), Ted Lilly (TKO over his Toronto manager, John Gibbons), and Carlos Zambrano (knocked out Michael Barrett, all the way into the National League West!).
Sure, we could follow the Milwaukee match-making strategy and have Lee (our Fielder) take on Marshall (our Parra), or we could be a little more creative.
Some ideas:
Recent comments
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.
crunch (view)
dbacks are signing j.montgomery to a 1/25m with a vesting 20m player option.
i dunno when the ink officially dries, but i believe if he signs once the season begins he can't be offered a QO...and i'm not sure if that thing with SD/LAD in korea was the season beginning, either.
crunch (view)
sut says imanaga getting the home opener at wrigley (game 4 of the season).
crunch (view)
cubs rolling out the who's who of "who the hell is this guy?" in the last spring game.
videographer (view)
AZ Phil, speaking of Jordan Wicks having better command when he tires a bit, I remember reading about Dennis Lamp 40 years ago and his sinker that was better after 3 or 4 innings when he would tire a bit and get more sink with a little less speed on the pitch. The key for Lamp was getting to the 4th inning.