4/18 Cubs (Z) at Braves (Davies) 6:35 p.m. CT CSN+

[gflore34]

Z's failings are going to be highlighted even moreso today when we really need him to be the ace he isn't.

 

The Trade Z BandWGN is now accepting all passengers for boarding. I know ARod is lighting things up right now, but I think Z and a reliever would look real good to the Yankees right now for him, especially with the pitching gap they have.

 

I'm on board, adding an ARod, moving him back to SS and making Izturis a bat boy would get the Cubs closer to playoffs than having Z ever will.

[C.C.]

Z's failings are going to be highlighted even moreso today when we really need him to be the ace he isn't.

 

The Trade Z BandWGN is now accepting all passengers for boarding. I know ARod is lighting things up right now, but I think Z and a reliever would look real good to the Yankees right now for him, especially with the pitching gap they have.

 

I'm on board, adding an ARod, moving him back to SS and making Izturis a bat boy would get the Cubs closer to playoffs than having Z ever will.

 

Count me in! I think we would score enough runs to support a rotation of Hill, Lilly, Marquis, Guz, and Miller...

 

 

Althought that rotation is quite scary.

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I don't think ARod will play SS, nor am I sure he can...

[CaliforniaRaisin]

Game-time temperature: 67°F

Feels like: 67°

 

Mostly cloudy, 10% chance of preciptiation. Winds blowing from RF to LF at about 5 mph.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

I don't think ARod will play SS, nor am I sure he can...

 

I'd love to see him prove you wrong.

[Sammy Sofa]

I don't think ARod will play SS

 

Based on what?

[CaliforniaRaisin]

I don't think ARod will play SS

 

Based on what?

 

He's gotten older (turns 32 this season) and it's been 4 seasons since he played shortstop. He doesn't look as mobile as he did when he was with the Rangers (but hey, he'd still be a better defensive SS than Jeter).

 

If, as Bob said, he could prove me wrong, I'd love a Z-for-ARod trade.

[Fred Hornkohl]

Greetings one and all from beautiful Abilene, TX.

 

Worthless stats of the day for Wednesday.............

 

CUBS are 1-0 on Wednesdays

CUBS are 0-0 vs. Atlanta

CUBS are 0-0 vs. the NLE Division

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

CUBS are 4-3 when they've lost their previous game

CUBS are 2-3 in games that start a series

CUBS are 0-1 in games that open a road trip

CUBS are 3-0 at night

CUBS are 3-3 on the road

CUBS are 5-7 against right handers

CUBS are 2-2 when the temperature is 70 degrees or above

CUBS are 1-0 when CLTV broadcasts the game

CUBS are 5-4 when they don't allow any runs is the first inning.... 0-4 when they do

CUBS are 5-2 when they score first in the game.... 0-6 when they don't

CUBS are 2-2 when they score in the first inning.... 3-6 when they don't

CUBS are on a pace to win 62 games this year..... compared to 66 last year and 79 in '05

CUBS are on a pace to score 723 runs this year..... compared to 716 last year and 703 in '05

CUBS are on a pace to hit 00 homeruns this year..... compared to 166 last year and 194 in '05

CUBS are on a pace to draw 449 walks this year..... compared to 395 last year and 419 in '05

CUBS are on a pace to strike out 1122 times this year..... compared to 928 last year and 920 in '05

CUBS are on a pace to steal 112 bases this year..... compared to 121 last year and 64 in '05

CUBS are on a pace to ground into 112 double plays this year..... compared to 135 last year and 129 in '05

CUBS are on a pace to commit 00 errors this year..... compared to 104 last year and 100 in '05

CUBS are scoring 4.46 runs per game...... compared to 4.42 last year and 4.34 in '05

CUBS are seeing 3.70 pitches per plate appearance...... compared to 3.68 last year and 3.61 in '05

CUBS are drving in 20.9% of their runners on base...... compared to 20.0% last year and 18.4% in '05

CUBS are scoring 0.363 runs per baserunner...... compared to 0.370 last year and 0.365 in '05

CUBS are getting extra base hits at a 29.2% rate...... compared to 32.3% last year and 35.8 in '05

 

CUBS are 1-2 when Zambrano starts

Zambrano is 1 of 3 in quality starts

Zambrano's ERA pitching to Barrett is 11.00.... pitching to Blanco it's 3.86

CUBS score 4.46 R/G overall.... 4.00 R/G when Zambrano pitches

CUBS hit 0.62 HR/G overall.... 0.67 HR/G when Zambrano pitches

 

CUBS' offensive support of Zambrano.....

 

04/02 - 04/17      AB    R    H   2b   3b   HR   TB  RBI   BB   SO     BA    OBP    SLG    OPS
CUBS w/Zambrano   110   12   33    6    1    2   47   11    5   19  0.300  0.328  0.427  0.755
CUBS overall      461   58  120   25    2    8  173   55   36   90  0.260  0.317  0.375  0.693

 

Zambrano's starts this year (1-2)

 

Zambrano                IP    H    R   ER   BB    K   HR    PC  BB/9   K/9  HR/9  WHIP   ERA
04/02  vs. Cincy       5.0    6    5    5    5    2    2    92  9.00  3.60  3.60  2.20  9.00
04/07  vs. Milw        7.0    5    3    3    2    6    2   109  2.57  7.71  2.57  1.00  3.86
04/13  vs. Cincy       4.0    6    6    6    4    2    0    87  9.00  4.50  0.00  2.50 13.50

Home                   4.0    6    6    6    4    2    0    87  9.00  4.50  0.00  2.50 13.50
Road                  12.0   11    8    8    7    8    4   201  5.25  6.00  3.00  1.50  6.00

Day                   16.0   17   14   14   11   10    4   288  6.19  5.63  2.25  1.75  7.88
Nite                   0.0    0    0    0    0    0    0     0  0.00  0.00  0.00  0.00  0.00

season totals         16.0   17   14   14   11   10    4   288  6.19  5.63  2.25  1.75  7.88

 

Zambrano's starts against Atlanta last year (0-0).......

 

Zambrano                IP    H    R   ER   BB    K   HR    PC  BB/9   K/9  HR/9  WHIP   ERA
05/26  vs. Atla        6.7    2    2    2    6    8    0   124  8.10 10.80  0.00  1.20  2.70

season totals        214.0  162   91   81  115  210   20  3624  4.84  8.83  0.84  1.29  3.41

 

CUBS bullpen load during the last week.......

 

              Tue        Mon        Sun        Sat        Fri        Thur       Wed           Totals
             17 Apr     16 Apr     15 Apr     14 Apr     13 Apr     12 Apr     11 Apr
             vs S.D.    vs S.D.    vs Cincy   vs Cincy   vs Cincy   no game    no game 
pitcher        IP Pit     IP Pit     IP Pit     IP Pit     IP Pit     IP Pit     IP Pit        IP Pit

Cotts         1.7  26                                     2.0  31                             3.7  57
Dempster      2.0  26               1.0  15    1.0  10                                        4.0  51
Eyre          0.3   2                                     1.0  21                             1.3  23
Guzman                   2.0  24                                                              2.0  24
Howry         2.0  21                          1.0  20    1.0   9                             4.0  50
Ohman         1.0  22    1.0  14                          0.0   9                             2.0  45
Wuertz        2.0  35               2.0  22               1.0  11                             5.0  68


Totals        9.0 132    3.0  38    3.0  37    2.0  30    5.0  81                            22.0 318

 

CUBS' season series vs. Atlanta this year.....

 

Gm#    Date       Opponent         Score  Starter         Opp Starter
14  Wed 04/18  @ Atlanta       N    -    Zambrano        Davies        
15  Thu 04/19  @ Atlanta       N    -    Hill            Redman        
53  Fri 06/01    Atlanta            -    Miller          Redman        
54  Sat 06/02    Atlanta            -    Zambrano        Smoltz        
55  Sun 06/03    Atlanta            -    Hill            Hudson        
59  Thu 06/07  @ Atlanta       N    -    Zambrano        Smoltz        
60  Fri 06/08  @ Atlanta       N    -    Hill            Hudson        
61  Sat 06/09  @ Atlanta            -    Lilly           James         
62  Sun 06/10  @ Atlanta            -    Marquis         Redman        

 

CUBS' season series vs. Atlanta last year (1-6) .......

 

Gm#    Date       Opponent         Score  Starter
47  Fri 05/26    Atlanta           5- 6  Zambrano      
48  Sat 05/27    Atlanta           1- 2  Marshall      
49  Sun 05/28    Atlanta          12-13  Ryu        
141  Fri 09/08  @ Atlanta       N   4- 8  Guzman        
142  Sat 09/09  @ Atlanta       N   3- 7  Miller        
143  Sun 09/10  @ Atlanta           1- 2  Mateo        
144  Mon 09/11  @ Atlanta       N   8- 3  Hill        

 

CUBS hitters vs. Atlanta last year.....

vs. Atla           AB    R    H   2B   3B   HR   TB  RBI   BB   SO     BA    OBP    SLG    OPS
Womack              7    1    5    0    0    0    5    1    0    0  0.714  0.714  0.714  1.429
Murton             18    1    8    2    0    1   13    1    1    2  0.444  0.474  0.722  1.196
Cedeno             17    2    6    3    0    0    9    1    2    2  0.353  0.421  0.529  0.950
Lee                12    2    2    0    0    2    8    4    1    6  0.167  0.231  0.667  0.897
Blanco             11    1    3    1    1    0    6    0    1    1  0.273  0.333  0.545  0.879
Jones              29    5    8    2    0    2   16    7    2    7  0.276  0.323  0.552  0.874
Walker             13    3    5    0    0    0    5    1    2    0  0.385  0.467  0.385  0.851
Perez              11    3    3    0    1    0    5    4    0    1  0.273  0.273  0.455  0.727
Barrett            13    2    4    1    0    0    5    3    0    0  0.308  0.333  0.385  0.718
Pierre             31    6   10    1    0    0   11    2    0    1  0.323  0.323  0.355  0.677
Ramirez            29    2    9    1    0    0   10    3    1    2  0.310  0.323  0.345  0.667
Izturis             4    0    1    0    0    0    1    0    0    0  0.250  0.250  0.250  0.500
Theriot             8    0    1    0    0    0    1    1    0    3  0.125  0.125  0.125  0.250
Pagan               6    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    1    2  0.000  0.143  0.000  0.143
Soto                4    1    0    0    0    0    0    1    0    3  0.000  0.000  0.000  0.000
Mabry               7    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    2  0.000  0.000  0.000  0.000
Hairston            3    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    1  0.000  0.000  0.000  0.000
Coats               1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    1  0.000  0.000  0.000  0.000
Moore               2    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0  0.000  0.000  0.000  0.000

totals vs. Atla   254   34   71   11    2    7  107   33   14   45  0.280  0.317  0.421  0.739

season totals    5586  715 1495  266   45  166 2349  667  394  926  0.268  0.319  0.421  0.739

 

CUBS pitchers vs. Atlanta last year......

 

vs. Atla             IP    H    R   ER   BB    K   HR    PC  BB/9   K/9  HR/9  WHIP   ERA
Walrond             0.3    0    0    0    0    0    0     3  0.00  0.00  0.00  0.00  0.00
Aardsma             2.0    0    0    0    0    4    0    24  0.00 18.00  0.00  0.00  0.00
Ohman               3.7    1    0    0    3    5    0    53  7.36 12.27  0.00  1.09  0.00
Hill                5.7    6    2    1    2    6    0   120  3.18  9.53  0.00  1.41  1.59
Howry               4.3    3    1    1    1    1    0    73  2.08  2.08  0.00  0.92  2.08
Zambrano            6.7    2    2    2    6    8    0   124  8.10 10.80  0.00  1.20  2.70
Mateo               6.0    5    2    2    2    6    0    97  3.00  9.00  0.00  1.17  3.00
Marshall            6.0    7    2    2    2    2    0    93  3.00  3.00  0.00  1.50  3.00
Eyre                4.0    4    3    2    1    5    0    68  2.25 11.25  0.00  1.25  4.50
Wuertz              2.0    3    1    1    1    4    0    34  4.50 18.00  0.00  2.00  4.50
Rusch               4.0    6    4    3    1    9    2    83  2.25 20.25  4.50  1.75  6.75
Dempster            3.0    5    4    3    2    2    0    54  6.00  6.00  0.00  2.33  9.00
Novoa               3.0    3    3    3    2    5    2    61  6.00 15.00  6.00  1.67  9.00
Miller              3.0    5    4    4    5    3    2    74 15.00  9.00  6.00  3.33 12.00
Guzman              4.3    7    6    6    0    7    3    80  0.00 14.54  6.23  1.62 12.46
Ryu                 4.0   10    7    7    0    2    5    66  0.00  4.50 11.25  2.50 15.75

totals vs. Atla    62.0   67   41   37   28   69   14  1107  4.06 10.02  2.03  1.53  5.37

season totals    1439.0 1402  838  766  691 1256  210 24704  4.32  7.86  1.31  1.45  4.79

 

Percentage of baserunners driven in........

 

04/02 - 04/17      BDI  LOB   RBI%
Pie                  1    0  1.000
Theriot              4    6  0.400
Blanco               1    2  0.333
Lee                 10   20  0.333
DeRosa               5   15  0.250
Ramirez              5   16  0.238
Barrett              7   23  0.233
Floyd                5   17  0.227
Murton               2    8  0.200
Izturis              2   15  0.118
Soriano              1   11  0.083
Cedeno               1   11  0.083
Jones                1   19  0.050
Ward                 0    3  0.000

CUBS                47  178  0.209

 

 

Go CUBS !!

[Banedon]

I don't think ARod will play SS

 

Based on what?

 

He's gotten older (turns 32 this season) and it's been 4 seasons since he played shortstop. He doesn't look as mobile as he did when he was with the Rangers (but hey, he'd still be a better defensive SS than Jeter).

 

If, as Bob said, he could prove me wrong, I'd love a Z-for-ARod trade.

 

Wouldn't his offensive production make up for the drop off in his defense though?

[squally1313]

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

CUBS are 4-3 when they've lost their previous game

 

 

Sorry, but I'm getting a little thrown off by these two stats....whats the difference here?

[jersey cubs fan]

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

CUBS are 4-3 when they've lost their previous game

 

 

Sorry, but I'm getting a little thrown off by these two stats....whats the difference here?

 

If you lost 2 in a row, that's not one in a row, but you've still lost your previous game.

[gflore34]

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

CUBS are 4-3 when they've lost their previous game

 

 

 

Sorry, but I'm getting a little thrown off by these two stats....whats the difference here?

 

I believe the first statistic refers to Cubs having won the game previous to the loss or, after opening day. Such as Monday - Win, Tuesday - Loss...

[VanceJergins]

I don't think ARod will play SS

 

Based on what?

 

He's gotten older (turns 32 this season) and it's been 4 seasons since he played shortstop. He doesn't look as mobile as he did when he was with the Rangers (but hey, he'd still be a better defensive SS than Jeter).

 

If, as Bob said, he could prove me wrong, I'd love a Z-for-ARod trade.

 

Put ARod at 2B and move DeRosa to SS. However, I'd be very worried about our rotation without Zambrano. Marquis, Miller, and Guzman all in the same rotation could end up very bad (I like Guzman, but he's not a sure thing).

[TruffleShuffle]

we aren't getting a-rod

[Derwood]

I don't think ARod will play SS

 

Based on what?

 

He's gotten older (turns 32 this season) and it's been 4 seasons since he played shortstop. He doesn't look as mobile as he did when he was with the Rangers (but hey, he'd still be a better defensive SS than Jeter).

 

If, as Bob said, he could prove me wrong, I'd love a Z-for-ARod trade.

 

Wouldn't his offensive production make up for the drop off in his defense though?

 

A-Rod is the best SS on the Yankees, they're just too stupid to play him at the right position

[Ding Dong Johnson]

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

CUBS are 4-3 when they've lost their previous game

 

 

Sorry, but I'm getting a little thrown off by these two stats....whats the difference here?

 

If you lost 2 in a row, that's not one in a row, but you've still lost your previous game.

 

Plus Fred likes to make up numbers to see if anyone's still reading.

[Soul]

Can sum this game up pretty easily:

 

Z needs to stop sucking, Cubs offense needs to start hitting.

 

 

 

Baseball is easy, see?

[Productive Outs]

we aren't getting a-rod

 

debbie downer

[Banedon]

we aren't getting a-rod

 

Meh...you weather guys are always wrong... :P

[seanimal]

I don't think ARod will play SS, nor am I sure he can...

 

ARod will do whatever Lou tells him to. Plus, don't you think it would be in the back of Rodriguez's mind that he would have the chance to win the GG over his great friend, Derek Jeter?

[Banedon]

I don't think ARod will play SS, nor am I sure he can...

 

ARod will do whatever Lou tells him to. Plus, don't you think it would be in the back of Rodriguez's mind that he would have the chance to win the GG over his great friend, Derek Jeter?

 

They would be in different leagues.

[B]

I don't think ARod will play SS, nor am I sure he can...

 

ARod will do whatever Lou tells him to. Plus, don't you think it would be in the back of Rodriguez's mind that he would have the chance to win the GG over his great friend, Derek Jeter?

 

I doubt it...since they would be in different leagues.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

ARod and Jeter have always been in different leagues.

[Chocolate Milk]

ARod and Jeter have always been in different leagues.

 

OH SNAP!

[seanimal]

I don't think ARod will play SS, nor am I sure he can...

 

ARod will do whatever Lou tells him to. Plus, don't you think it would be in the back of Rodriguez's mind that he would have the chance to win the GG over his great friend, Derek Jeter?

 

They would be in different leagues.

 

Details. Mental gaffe aside, I find it incredibly unlikely that Rodriguez will turn down the chance to play SS again, if given the opportunity. I'm still trying to figure out what's more likely,

 

A) Deadline deal for A-Rod

B) A-Rod opts out and the Cubs sign him.

 

A) seems somewhat improbably since it will probably take Z to pry A-Rod out of the Yankees grip, and I just don't see Hendry trading him if we're in it just because Zambrano might walk at the end of the year.

B) seems somewhat more probable though it really depends on how soon the Tribune can wrap up the sale of the Cubs, and what kind of resources the new owner(s) will be bringing to the table.

 

Attempting to get A-Rod seems like a no-brainer though.