6/5 Cubs (Zambrano) @ Astros (Buchholz) 7:05 on CSN

[Andy]

I just saw some of the pitches on ESPN, just wow. Looking by those pitches Z was just ON tonight.

I showed up in the 5th and he was just electric. He had a few flashes of super-walk Z but every time he fell behind a hitter he just fired that wicked slide piece and would get the grounder or the K. It was a beautiful thing to watch. Let's see if he can keep it up...

[NorthsideAvenger]

I just saw some of the pitches on ESPN, just wow. Looking by those pitches Z was just ON tonight.

 

Exactly, I don't understand why people are harping on Baker tonight. This game was just about as flawless as you are going to get from Baker and the Cubs. Enjoy.

 

People are disgusted with the amount of pitches Z throw, but let's face it...it's not really about the pitches that hurts the arm, it's the mechanics. When pitchers get tired, they tired to get lazy with their mechanics, and there arms would go to spots theys shouldn't. I'm no pitching coach, but Z look like he had solid mechanics from pitch 1, to pitch 126, thus he eliminate any necessary "stress" in his arms, by staying consistant with his mechanics.

 

Bottomline: to those who thought Baker should screw the no-hitter and take Z out....you guys are COMPLETE wrong. Eat crow. Baseball is about superstition, and with Z having it "ON" tonight, you don't break that superstition. You allow the pitcher to go as FAR as necessary to achieve the no-hitter (unless it's extra innings). And when Z gave up the hit with 1 out in the 8, he or for that matter Z, wanted to finish the inning. Good decision by Baker, and those Baker hater's for the night (not calling anybody out specifically), just ENJOY the win, and Zambrano's performance. Stop looking for anything to nitpick about.

 

=D> =D> Carlos, oops, I mean Ace Carlos.

[Sosa21MVP]

Why are people freaking out here? Relax Cubs WON!!

 

It is the ugly side of the boards showing which is part of the reason I do not post much here.

 

Cubs get a great team win 8-0 over Houston and people are tearing each other to shreds over Z's extra 10 pitches. Not that it is not a worthy discussion but I think it should carry on in it's own thread on Baseball Discussions rather than here.

 

Personally, I was surprised Z was able to escape the 8th without further damage. Probably he should have been pulled but he managed to fight through it without further damage. When he started falling behind badly to every batter I knew he was pitching on the edge.

 

It's a great win, everyone came out healthy, difference of opinion happen. Meh, I don't get it sometimes.

[Outshined_One]

I gotta give props to Carlos for not completely imploding when he gave up that hit to Wilson. He kept his composure and got out of the inning.

[soccer10k]

Why are people freaking out here? Relax Cubs WON!!

 

It is the ugly side of the boards showing which is part of the reason I do not post much here.

 

Cubs get a great team win 8-0 over Houston and people are tearing each other to shreds over Z's extra 10 pitches. Not that it is not a worthy discussion but I think it should carry on in it's own thread on Baseball Discussions rather than here.

 

Personally, I was surprised Z was able to escape the 8th without further damage. Probably he should have been pulled but he managed to fight through it without further damage. When he started falling behind badly to every batter I knew he was pitching on the edge.

 

It's a great win, everyone came out healthy, difference of opinion happen. Meh, I don't get it sometimes.

 

I agree with you in the sense that it seemed like Z started to lose it a bit in the eighth inning and that's why I would have taken him out after he lost the no hitter.

[Derwood]

so....tomorrow's game thread?

[YearofDaCubs]

I just saw some of the pitches on ESPN, just wow. Looking by those pitches Z was just ON tonight.

 

Exactly, I don't understand why people are harping on Baker tonight. This game was just about as flawless as you are going to get from Baker and the Cubs. Enjoy.

 

People are disgusted with the amount of pitches Z throw, but let's face it...it's not really about the pitches that hurts the arm, it's the mechanics. When pitchers get tired, they tired to get lazy with their mechanics, and there arms would go to spots theys shouldn't. I'm no pitching coach, but Z look like he had solid mechanics from pitch 1, to pitch 126, thus he eliminate any necessary "stress" in his arms, by staying consistant with his mechanics.

 

Bottomline: to those who thought Baker should screw the no-hitter and take Z out....you guys are COMPLETE wrong. Eat crow. Baseball is about superstition, and with Z having it "ON" tonight, you don't break that superstition. You allow the pitcher to go as FAR as necessary to achieve the no-hitter (unless it's extra innings). And when Z gave up the hit with 1 out in the 8, he or for that matter Z, wanted to finish the inning. Good decision by Baker, and those Baker hater's for the night (not calling anybody out specifically), just ENJOY the win, and Zambrano's performance. Stop looking for anything to nitpick about.

 

=D> =D> Carlos, oops, I mean Ace Carlos.

On normal circumstances I would say there is no way we allow Z to go to 120 pitches but if he's pitching a no-no there is no way you can pull him.

[goonys evil twin]

I just saw some of the pitches on ESPN, just wow. Looking by those pitches Z was just ON tonight.

 

Exactly, I don't understand why people are harping on Baker tonight. This game was just about as flawless as you are going to get from Baker and the Cubs. Enjoy.

 

People are disgusted with the amount of pitches Z throw, but let's face it...it's not really about the pitches that hurts the arm, it's the mechanics. When pitchers get tired, they tired to get lazy with their mechanics, and there arms would go to spots theys shouldn't. I'm no pitching coach, but Z look like he had solid mechanics from pitch 1, to pitch 126, thus he eliminate any necessary "stress" in his arms, by staying consistant with his mechanics.

 

Bottomline: to those who thought Baker should screw the no-hitter and take Z out....you guys are COMPLETE wrong. Eat crow. Baseball is about superstition, and with Z having it "ON" tonight, you don't break that superstition. You allow the pitcher to go as FAR as necessary to achieve the no-hitter (unless it's extra innings). And when Z gave up the hit with 1 out in the 8, he or for that matter Z, wanted to finish the inning. Good decision by Baker, and those Baker hater's for the night (not calling anybody out specifically), just ENJOY the win, and Zambrano's performance. Stop looking for anything to nitpick about.

 

=D> =D> Carlos, oops, I mean Ace Carlos.

On normal circumstances I would say there is no way we allow Z to go to 120 pitches but if he's pitching a no-no there is no way you can pull him.

 

I don't know how anybody could say he had great mechanics late. He was overthrowing, and missing badly on several pitches. He was clearly done. And the right thing to do was to have a pitcher warming in the bullpen for as soon as he gives up the one hit. There's no justification to keep him in longer.