5/18 Nationals (Ortiz) @ Cubs (Wood) 1:20 PM WGN

[Flames24Rulz]

WOOD IS BACK!!!

 

2 in a row! Pitching was on for the 2nd straight game as Marshall was the pitcher that had the great night tonight. The offense also scored more than 4 runs for the 2nd straight day. ARam did have a back strain though and I would probably expect him to have tomorrow off. Luckily we are playing the Nats though who are even more hopeless than we are, so we could still be alright. Here are the pitching matchups with a familiar face taking the bump for the Cubs:

 

http://washington.nationals.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_150009.jpg

 

Ramon Ortiz: 0-4, 6.30 ERA

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_134268.jpg

 

Kerry Wood: 1st start of the season

 

Kerry had a very impressive start in single A and had a solid start for Iowa. I would expect him to be able to throw close to 100 pitches tomorrow as he threw 85 for Iowa. Hopefully he can at least give us 5 or 6 real good innings tomorrow in his first start of the year. Ortiz, meanwhile, has only had 1 solid start in his first 7 starts. He has been rocked in every other start. Let's hope our offense can continue our recent hot streak tomorrow afternoon and get Woody a win in his first game back!

[Big Fergie J]

Welcome back Kerry !

 

Do it.

 

3 wins in a row......

[Jon]

Guillen strained his right hamstring tonight and probably won't play tomorrow.

[CubfaninCA]

Cubs 6 Nat 4

 

Ortiz sucks.

 

Jacque Jones hits 2 home runs.

[sunnydoo]

And since we now have a streak, you dont mess with the streak.

 

Today we are sucking up to Ramon Ortiz for the Nationals in the hopes he will help us make it 3 in a row. Today's selection is by Bob Dylan entitled Romance in Durango. It is the only song that i could think of with Ramon or Ortiz in it. Enjoy and give em hell Kid K. And keep the streak alive Flame!

 

 

Hot chili peppers in the blistering sun

Dust on my face and my cape,

Me and Magdalena on the run

I think this time we shall escape.

 

Sold my guitar to the baker's son

For a few crumbs and a place to hide,

But I can get another one

And I'll play for Magdalena as we ride.

 

No llores, mi querida

Dios nos vigila

Soon the horse will take us to Durango.

Agarrame, mi vida

Soon the desert will be gone

Soon you will be dancing the fandango.

 

Past the Aztec ruins and the ghosts of our people

Hoofbeats like castanets on stone.

At night I dream of bells in the village steeple

Then I see the bloody face of Ramon.

 

Was it me that shot him down in the cantina

Was it my hand that held the gun?

Come, let us fly, my Magdalena

The dogs are barking and what's done is done.

 

No llores, mi querida

Dios nos vigila

Soon the horse will take us to Durango.

Agarrame, mi vida

Soon the desert will be gone

Soon you will be dancing the fandango.

 

At the corrida we'll sit in the shade

And watch the young torero stand alone.

We'll drink tequila where our grandfathers stayed

When they rode with Villa into Torreon.

 

Then the padre will recite the prayers of old

In the little church this side of town.

I will wear new boots and an earring of gold

You'll shine with diamonds in your wedding gown.

 

The way is long but the end is near

Already the fiesta has begun.

The face of God will appear

With His serpent eyes of obsidian.

 

No llores, mi querida

Dios nos vigila

Soon the horse will take us to Durango.

Agarrame, mi vida

Soon the desert will be gone

Soon you will be dancing the fandango.

 

Was that the thunder that I heard?

My head is vibrating, I feel a sharp pain

Come sit by me, don't say a word

Oh, can it be that I am slain?

 

Quick, Magdalena, take my gun

Look up in the hills, that flash of light.

Aim well my little one

We may not make it through the night.

 

No llores, mi querida

Dios nos vigila

Soon the horse will take us to Durango.

Agarrame, mi vida

Soon the desert will be gone

Soon you will be dancing the fandango

Edited May 18, 2006 by sunnydoo

[Chris]

We win

[Drew Doughty]

Sold my guitar to the baker's son

 

Why did you sell your guitar to Darren?

[Jon]

Forecast:

 

Gametime temps around 60 degrees, partly cloudy, and an increasing wind (13-20 mph) blowing from left-to-right.

[BigSlick]

Well, I have to stay consistently negative:

 

How many pitches does Wood have to hurl before his bionic arm falls off?

 

17?

[ToupeeOnFire]

My KW prediction: 5 IP, 2 ER.

 

Hopefully that will be enough.

[Sammy Sofa]

Cubs sweep. Kerry shocks the world and pitches 7 full innings and allows 2 runs or less.

 

Aramis Ramirez is fat.

[Fred Hornkohl]

Some worthless stats of the day for Thursday.........

 

CUBS are 0-3 on Thursdays

CUBS are 2-0 vs. Washington

CUBS are 2-1 when they've won their last 2 game(s) in a row

CUBS are 6-10 when they've won their previous game

CUBS are 4-9 in games that end a series

CUBS are 7-13 in day games

CUBS are 10-9 at home

CUBS are 12-11 when the temperature is under 65 degrees

CUBS are 13-5 when they get a quality start.... 4-17 when they don't

CUBS are 14-5 when they score first in the game.... 3-17 when they don't

CUBS are 10-3 when they score in the first inning.... 7-19 when they don't

CUBS are 13-10 when they don't allow any runs is the first inning.... 4-12 when they do

CUBS are 16-11 when their pitchers average 18 pitches per inning or less..... 1-11 when they don't

CUBS are 14-5 when the opponent's starter pitches 6-1/3 inning or less.... 3-17 when he doesn't

CUBS have not allowed an extra base hit in their last 2 games

CUBS have only GIDP'd once in their last 4 games

CUBS have allowed 1 sac fly in their last 8 games

CUBS hitters have drawn at least 1 BB in each of their last 7 games

CUBS are on a pace to win 71 games this year..... compared to 79 last year

CUBS are on a pace to score 615 runs this year..... compared to 703 last year

CUBS are on a pace to hit 112 home runs this year..... compared to 194 last year

CUBS are on a pace to draw 440 walks this year..... compared to 419 last year

CUBS are drving in 18.6% of their runners on base compared to 18.4% last year

CUBS are scoring 0.347 runs per baserunner compared to 0.365 last year

 

 

Kerry Wood is making his first start of the season. Last year, he had no starts against Washington. His totals from last year (3-4).......

 

04/04 - 10/02        IP    H    R   ER   BB    K   HR    PC  BB/9   K/9  HR/9  WHIP   ERA
Wood               66.0   52   32   31   26   77   14  1056  3.55 10.50  1.91  1.18  4.23

 

CUBS' season series vs. Washington .......

 

Gm#    Date       Opponent         Score  Starter
38  Tue 05/16    Washington    N   4- 0  Zambrano      
39  Wed 05/17    Washington    N   5- 0  Marshall      
40  Thu 05/18    Washington         -    Wood        
95  Fri 07/21  @ Washington    N    -             
96  Sat 07/22  @ Washington    N    -             
97  Sun 07/23  @ Washington         -             

 

CUBS' offense during the last 10 games.....

 

05/07 - 05/17      AB    R    H   2B   3B   HR   TB  RBI   BB   SO     BA    OBP    SLG    OPS
Bynum               6    2    2    0    1    1    7    2    0    2  0.333  0.333  1.167  1.500
Jones              30    4   11    2    0    2   19    7    1    3  0.367  0.387  0.633  1.020
Barrett            26    1    8    2    0    1   13    1    3    1  0.308  0.379  0.500  0.879
Hairston           19    1    7    2    0    0    9    2    1    3  0.368  0.400  0.474  0.874
Walker             29    3    7    2    0    0    9    6    6    4  0.241  0.361  0.310  0.671
Ramirez            36    5    8    4    0    1   15    6    1    2  0.222  0.237  0.417  0.654
Perez              20    2    5    1    0    0    6    3    1    1  0.250  0.273  0.300  0.573
Murton             27    6    5    0    0    0    5    0    3    3  0.185  0.290  0.185  0.476
Mabry              18    0    3    0    0    0    3    0    2    2  0.167  0.286  0.167  0.452
Pierre             44    4    9    1    0    0   10    0    1    3  0.205  0.222  0.227  0.449
Cedeno             39    4    7    0    1    0    9    2    1   12  0.179  0.200  0.231  0.431
Theriot             2    1    0    0    0    0    0    0    1    0  0.000  0.333  0.000  0.333
Blanco              9    0    0    0    0    0    0    2    0    1  0.000  0.000  0.000  0.000

10 game totals    324   35   77   15    2    5  111   32   21   42  0.238  0.285  0.343  0.627

season totals    1282  148  314   55   10   27  470  135  106  206  0.245  0.304  0.367  0.670

 

CUBS' pitchers during the last 10 games......

 

05/07 - 05/17        IP    H    R   ER   BB    K   HR    PC  BB/9   K/9  HR/9  WHIP   ERA
Ohman               4.0    3    0    0    0    5    0    58  0.00 11.25  0.00  0.75  0.00
Zambrano           16.0    9    1    1    7   14    0   232  3.94  7.88  0.00  1.00  0.56
Williamson          4.0    2    1    1    1    5    0    57  2.25 11.25  0.00  0.75  2.25
Eyre                3.7    4    1    1    1    4    1    62  2.45  9.82  2.45  1.36  2.45
Howry               4.0    5    2    2    0    3    1    57  0.00  6.75  2.25  1.25  4.50
Maddux             11.0   13    8    7    3    7    1   143  2.45  5.73  0.82  1.45  5.73
Hill               11.3   12    8    8    8    8    1   190  6.35  6.35  0.79  1.76  6.35
Dempster            5.0    6    4    4    1    6    1    72  1.80 10.80  1.80  1.40  7.20
Marshall            9.7   10    9    9    9    8    0   188  8.38  7.45  0.00  1.97  8.38
Rusch               5.3    9    6    5    4    3    0   110  6.75  5.06  0.00  2.44  8.44
Guzman              7.3    8    7    7    9    8    0   187 11.05  9.82  0.00  2.32  8.59
Ryu                 1.0    1    1    1    2    2    0    27 18.00 18.00  0.00  3.00  9.00
Novoa               3.7    5    5    4    5    3    1    82 12.27  7.36  2.45  2.73  9.82

10 game totals     86.0   87   53   50   50   76    6  1465  5.23  7.95  0.63  1.59  5.23

season totals     342.0  305  188  174  171  296   44  5780  4.50  7.79  1.16  1.39  4.58

 

Go CUBS !!

 

http://sneakykitchen.com/fullerbrush/images/household_broom.jpg

[Transmogrified Tiger]

We are awesome.

 

Bullpen Rest  Dempster   Eyre      Williamson   Howry   Ohman     Novoa      Rusch      Ryu
May 17         DNP      1IP/14p     1IP/11p    1IP/10p   DNP       DNP        DNP       DNP

May 16        1IP/9p     DNP         DNP        DNP      DNP       DNP        DNP       DNP

May 15         DNP       DNP         DNP        DNP      DNP       DNP        DNP       DNP

May 14         DNP       DNP        .2IP/17p   1IP/17p   DNP     1IP/23p      DNP     1IP/27p

May 13        1IP/20p   .2IP/6p      DNP        DNP      DNP       DNP        DNP       DNP 

May 12        1IP/17p   1IP/10p    1.1IP/15p   1IP/19p   DNP       DNP      1.2IP/40p   DNP

[A New Era]

I guess I have to stay consistantly. . . Not here.

[soccer10k]

I'm skipping class to see this game so Wood better pitch well.

[Derwood]

history shows that kerry will likely throw a lot of pitches per inning so 5 strong is all i can hope for.

 

with a-ram hurt our vision of an all-second baseman lineup nears reality.

[Andy]

Time for a

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v257/vance_the_cubs_fan/cubsweep.jpg

[BigSlick]

Time for a

BIG ASS PICTURE

 

That brings a tear to my eye. We haven't seen that since the sweep of the Cardinals when our hopes were yet to be dashed, and Derrek Lee sat gloriously atop first base.

[Andy]

Time for a

BIG ASS PICTURE

 

That brings a tear to my eye. We haven't seen that since the sweep of the Cardinals when our hopes were yet to be dashed, and Derrek Lee sat gloriously atop first base.

Actually I put that picture up for the Marlins game that we lost as well because there was a sweep possibility.

[soccer10k]

Thank goodness this game is on WGN so I don't have to watch on MLB.TV and have to worry about my wireless internet connection going out.

[IWU_CUBS_FAN]

sweep, sweep, sweep all day long

sweep, sweep, sweep while Kerry sings his song

[Shavo]

Pierre

Murton

Walker

Jones

Mabry

Neifi

Cedeno

Blanco

 

Thats brutal :?

 

GO WOOD!!!

[Derwood]

Pierre

Murton

Walker

Jones

Mabry

Neifi

Cedeno

Blanco

 

Thats brutal :?

 

GO WOOD!!!

 

source? or is this just a guess?

[Sammy Sofa]

Gotta be a guess, it's way too early for the line up...I wouldn't be surprised if Aramis is out, but given the off day this week and how badly this team needs the sweep, I'll be stunned if Barrett isn't playing today. His bat has been pretty strong this series.

[Fro]

http://img150.imageshack.us/img150/279/enemycrab6ct.jpg