5/4 Cubs (Hill) @ Arizona (Cruz) 8:40 PM WCIU/WGN-720; XM188

[cubscott34]

Ok... we have had no offense for several games and our best pitcher so far this year just lost his first game... time for these guys to get fired up and win 5 or 6 in a row!!!!!!!

 

The Cubs turn to the lefty Hill, another youngster, who has been brilliant for Iowa so far this season. If he can keeps his walks under control like he has in Ioan then he will certainly turn some heads and keep the Arizona offense from doing too much damage. Given that the young guys (other than Maddux) are really the only reason the Cubs are still above .500 I truly expect that Hill will keep the youth movement going strong. Meanwhile, the snakes will send out the ex-cub Juan Cruz who looked pretty solid in his first start last week. However, I suspect that his overwhelming desire to beat the Cubs, the first team to trade him, will lead to the trademark wildness and stamina issues that caused him to be traded in the first place. My prediction is that Hill posts 6 solid innings while Cruz doesn't make it out of the 5th and the Cubs win this one 6-2. GO CUBS!!!

 

The starters:

 

Rich Hill 0-0 0.00

http://cubs.mlb.com/images/gameday/mugshots/mlb/448179.jpg

 

vs.

 

Juan Cruz 0-0 2.65

http://cubs.mlb.com/images/gameday/mugshots/mlb/407297.jpg

[IWU_CUBS_FAN]

I agree it's def time to turn this thing around. Rich Hill...please lead us to the start of a good road trip.

 

in the words of the great American philosophers VAN HALEN

 

"C'mon turn, turn this thing around

Right now, hey

It's your tomorrow

Right now,

C'mon,it's everything

Right now,

Catch a magic moment, do it

Right here and now"

 

cuz if they don't then i'm def gonna "JUMP"

[Outshined_One]

cuz if they don't then i'm def gonna "JUMP"

 

Todd Wellemeyer wants to have words with you.

[soccer10k]

Ugh. I can see it already. Former Cubs player pitches well against Cubs just to spite them for not keeping him. Ugh.

[C.C.]

Call me crazy but I'm feeling a real good outing from Hill tonight...

 

4-2 cubs win tonight.

[baseball7897]

Wow some bold prediction's hear. Im not sure if the Cubs are capable of scoring 4 runs but what the hell I predict a 7-4 Cubs win

[soapy]

Cruz is wild tonight but it doesn't matter becuase the Cubs can't lay off. He goes 8 innings on 86 pitches giving up one run (HR by Murton). Cubs lose and afterwards Dusty utters his famous "tip your cap" line about Cruz.

[Flames24Rulz]

We suck.

[oldstyle81]

this team is about as bad as ive seen it, no motivation whatsoever. It is like a broken record of last year but without a guy hitting .450. Cubs get swept tonight. so much for everyone saying if they just could keep their head above water, too bad the storm is getting worse and the water is rising. Cy Young, oops read that wrong, Juan Cruz will give up one run, a home run by Aram on 4 hits and 1 walk in a Complete game.

[C.C.]

this team is about as bad as ive seen it, no motivation whatsoever. It is like a broken record of last year but without a guy hitting .450. Cubs get swept tonight. so much for everyone saying if they just could keep their head above water, too bad the storm is getting worse and the water is rising. Cy Young, oops read that wrong, Juan Cruz will give up one run, a home run by Aram on 4 hits and 1 walk in a Complete game.

 

And yet we are still 14-12. Hang in there! If we can just ride this out and get healthy we'll be alright.

[Derwood]

Either the Cubs will continue their trend and score 1 run, or they will inexplicably score 16 and win 16-4 or something. Then they'll go back to sucking again

[baseball7897]

Flames who is we? Do you have a mouse in your pocket?

[LoneStarCubFan]

Hill goes eight innings, gives up three hits, walks one, Arizona scores an unearned run on a throwing error by Neifi.

 

Meanwhile, Cruz walks seven, strikes out two, hits two guys, balks once, gives up 12 hits in eight innings.

 

But the Cubs hit into five double plays and strand 16 guys on base in a 1-0 loss in Cruz's last start before he is demoted to AAA.

[Garwilly]

Flames who is we? Do you have a mouse in your pocket?

 

:roll: (And yes I am using this in the psuedo "attack the poster" type of way.)

Hill goes 5, gives up 5, I'm thinking 96 pitches.

[badger1679666666]

We are beyond horrible.

[cheapseats]

Watch how the home plate umpire calls Hill's curve tonight. Sometimes Hill doesn't get a strike called when he should because the curve starts high and breaks so drastically.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

We are terrible.

[Jon]

Arizona has a team .819 OPS against lefties (.749 against righties). But I think Hill will be fine if he has the same control he had in Iowa.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Bullpen Rest  Dempster   Eyre      Williamson   Howry   Ohman     Novoa      Rusch
May 3          DNP       DNP        1IP/16p    1IP/20p  1IP/16p    DNP        DNP

May 2          DNP      1IP/17p      DNP        DNP     1IP/13p  1.1IP/31p    DNP

May 1         1IP/17p    DNP         DNP       .2IP/5p   DNP       DNP        DNP

April 30      1IP/12p   1IP/20p     2IP/28p     DNP     1IP/9p     DNP        DNP

April 29       DNP       DNP         DNP        DNP     2IP/39p  2IP/57p    2.2IP/81p

April 28       DNP      1IP/20p     1IP/14p    1IP/13p   DNP       DNP        DNP

April 27(Off)  DNP       DNP         DNP        DNP      DNP       DNP        DNP

[Jon]

Oh, and the Cubs are dead last in the majors with a .552 OPS against left handed pitchers. Thankfully, we shouldn't be facing one for a while.

[C.C.]

Watch how the home plate umpire calls Hill's curve tonight. Sometimes Hill doesn't get a strike called when he should because the curve starts high and breaks so drastically.

 

That's if Hill can get a good break on the ball playing in AZ.

[Master Shake]

I predict we lose. Score doesn't matter.

[C.C.]

I predict we lose. Score doesn't matter.

 

Tell us how you really feel...

[Mizzou]

Prediction:

 

Cubs lose 8-1. Hill goes 5 innings, giving up 6 ER on 9 hits. Cruz pitches 7 strong innings. Aramis continues to suck. Pierre gets a couple hits.

 

You heard it here first.