5/8 Pirates (Snell) @ Cubs (Lilly) 7:05 WCIU/720

[soccer10k]

The hope is that Kasper and Brenly give us less rooting and more opinion. It's an approach that worked pretty well for Steve Stone.

 

It worked so well he got fired!

 

That was my first thought as well.

[jersey cubs fan]

The hope is that Kasper and Brenly give us less rooting and more opinion. It's an approach that worked pretty well for Steve Stone.

 

It worked so well he got fired!

 

That was my first thought as well.

 

Opinions didn't get Stone fired. Opinions kept him gainfully employed for 2 decades. In fact, he wasn't even fired. If anything, you could say arrogance led to him leaving on his own accord.

[B]

I'll probably tune in via MLB.TV while I work on a feature.

 

This is the longest Cubs winning streak since July 8 to July 15, 2005 (All Star Break in between) which was also five games. Of course, that 5 game winning streak was preceded by an 8 game losing streak. If the Cubs win, it will be the longest streak since they won 7 in a row from May 27 to June 2, 2005.

Wonder if it hits 10 games then BB and Len will switch facial hair like they promised...

 

 

Wait, what? I didn't hear about this, please explain.

 

This was a bet made by and e-mailer I beleive. It was 2 years ago. They agreed that Bob would shave and Len would grow facial hair.

[A New Era]

I'll probably tune in via MLB.TV while I work on a feature.

 

This is the longest Cubs winning streak since July 8 to July 15, 2005 (All Star Break in between) which was also five games. Of course, that 5 game winning streak was preceded by an 8 game losing streak. If the Cubs win, it will be the longest streak since they won 7 in a row from May 27 to June 2, 2005.

Wonder if it hits 10 games then BB and Len will switch facial hair like they promised...

 

 

Wait, what? I didn't hear about this, please explain.

 

This was a bet made by and e-mailer I beleive. It was 2 years ago. They agreed that Bob would shave and Len would grow facial hair.

 

5 more wins to go!! Shave Bob, square beard Len.

[inari]

I'd love to see them honor that bet.

 

And to echo what a few others have already said, this series scares me. The Pirates have a couple of decent pitchers going and we have had trouble with two of them. I'm hoping things go well, but to be honest, I don't expect a sweep. This is certainly a series we have to win though.

[A New Era]

I'd love to see them honor that bet.

 

And to echo what a few others have already said, this series scares me. The Pirates have a couple of decent pitchers going and we have had trouble with two of them. I'm hoping things go well, but to be honest, I don't expect a sweep. This is certainly a series we have to win though.

 

Which 2? Last time Snell pitched he got in a bases loaded jam halfway into the game, and we scored, 4 (I believe) off him.

[jersey cubs fan]

I'd love to see them honor that bet.

 

And to echo what a few others have already said, this series scares me. The Pirates have a couple of decent pitchers going and we have had trouble with two of them. I'm hoping things go well, but to be honest, I don't expect a sweep. This is certainly a series we have to win though.

 

I never expect a sweep, unless they've already won the first two. I always think in terms of winning the series. It shouldn't scare you that you think a sweep is in question.

 

But the Cubs do have to win series like this whenever possible, especially with the upcoming schedule getting tougher.

[inari]

Poor word choice by me. I'm not just worried because I don't expect a sweep, I'm worried because I don't expect a series win. What I meant is that I'm almost willing to guarantee we won't get a sweep.

[CubColtPacer]

With left-handers coming up the next two days, I'd be very surprised if Jones and Floyd weren't the CF/RF tonight.

[B]

With left-handers coming up the next two days, I'd be very surprised if Jones and Floyd weren't the CF/RF tonight.

 

and...they are.

[seanimal]

With left-handers coming up the next two days, I'd be very surprised if Jones and Floyd weren't the CF/RF tonight.

 

We will know soon enough...

[otis89]

Lineups

 

Cubs

 

Soriano LF

Theriot 2B

Lee 1B

Ramirez 3B

Floyd RF

Barrett C

Jones CF

Izturis SS

Lilly P

 

Pirates

 

Duffy CF

Wilson SS

Sanchez 2B

Bay LF

Nady RF

LaRoche 1B

Paulino C

Bautista 3B

Snell P

 

Why the hell isn't Pie playing?!

[cubbyvirus00]

GRAB PINE PIE

 

 

seriously, why is he here? Floyd needs to sit and rest to stay fresh for an entire season since hes injury prone.

[kujay]

Yeah, I don't get it. There was all that talk about putting Theriot at SS and getting Izzy out of the lineup. But there he is again, killing us from the 8th spot.

 

It's easy Lou. The Riot at SS, DeRosa at 2B.

[CubColtPacer]

Interesting-this is the exact same lineup, both positions and spots, that beat Snell last week. I bet that is not a coincidence.

[Geech]

Yeah, I don't get it. There was all that talk about putting Theriot at SS and getting Izzy out of the lineup. But there he is again, killing us from the 8th spot.

 

It's easy Lou. The Riot at SS, DeRosa at 2B.

 

Hey, now. He's gotta take care of the veterans.

[Lockes Eye Scar]

Will Murton ever start again?

[slieb85]

Will Murton ever start again?

 

He should the next 2 games (after tonight), 2 lefties.

[Rob]

Will Murton ever start again?

 

Lou has to find a start for Alan Trammel somewhere first, but Murton is next in line after that.

[Lockes Eye Scar]

I might have put Trammel in at short instead of Izturis.

[killthegoat06]

Nice to see Izturis in there again. :roll:

[seanimal]

Interesting-this is the exact same lineup, both positions and spots, that beat Snell last week. I bet that is not a coincidence.

 

I wanna say we did that in spite of Izturis, not because of it.

[CubColtPacer]

Interesting-this is the exact same lineup, both positions and spots, that beat Snell last week. I bet that is not a coincidence.

 

I wanna say we did that in spite of Izturis, not because of it.

 

It was in spite of him, although Izturis does have a .400 OBP in the last week :D

[Shilzzz]

the lineup looks so much better with derosa over izworthless.

[98navigator]

I'd love to see them honor that bet.

 

And to echo what a few others have already said, this series scares me. The Pirates have a couple of decent pitchers going and we have had trouble with two of them. I'm hoping things go well, but to be honest, I don't expect a sweep. This is certainly a series we have to win though.

 

Which 2? Last time Snell pitched he got in a bases loaded jam halfway into the game, and we scored, 4 (I believe) off him.

 

Snell was wild against the Cubs, and they capitalized by being patient, but he and Gorzelanny have been the anchors of their rotation. They are two of the top pitchers in the League.

 

#	  NAME	   TEAM	  LG	YEAR	G   GS	 IP	 H9	  BB9	 SO9	 HR9	 ERA	 RA    PK_RA	 RA+	 RP	VORP	BABIP
1. Tim Hudson	    ATL	 NL	2007	7	7	53.0	6.11	2.04	5.94	0.34	1.70	1.70	1.72	2.55	15.7	21.3	.230
2. Brad Penny	    LAN	 NL	2007	7	7	45.3	7.54	3.38	5.76	0.00	1.39	1.59	1.60	2.75	14.0	18.9	.284
3. John Maine	    NYN	 NL	2007	6	6	39.3	5.49	4.12	8.47	0.46	1.37	1.37	1.40	3.12	13.0	17.2	.232
4. Rich Hill	     CHN    NL	2007	6	6	41.7	5.62	2.59	7.13	0.65	1.73	1.73	1.70	2.57	12.4	16.8	.213
5. Jake Peavy	    SDN	 NL	2007	7	7	46.3	5.83	2.91  10.88	0.19	1.75	2.14	2.21	1.98	11.2	16.1	.266
6. Roy Oswalt	    HOU	 NL	2007	8	8	57.0	7.26	3.00	5.37	0.95	3.00	3.00	2.96	1.48	 9.0	15.1	.235
7. Jeff Suppan	   MIL	 NL	2007	7	7	48.0	9.56	1.69	5.06	0.38	2.63	2.81	2.81	1.56	 8.4	13.5	.325
8. Ian Snell	     PIT	 NL	2007	6	6	39.0	6.46	3.46	7.15	0.46	2.31	2.31	2.30	1.90	 9.0	13.2	.241
9. Jason Marquis    CHN	 NL	2007	6	6	38.7	6.28	3.03	4.42	0.47	2.09	2.33	2.28	1.92	 9.0	13.1	.207
10. Mark Hendrickson LAN    NL	2007	6	3	27.7	4.55	1.63	7.81	0.33	1.30	1.30	1.30	3.37	 9.5	12.2	.206
11. Braden Looper    SLN	 NL	2007	7	7	44.0	8.18	2.86	5.32	0.41	2.66	2.86	2.86	1.53	 7.5	12.2	.284
12. Heath Bell	    SDN	 NL	2007  16	0	20.7	3.05	1.74  10.02	0.00	0.44	0.44	0.44	9.86	 9.0	10.9	.159
13. Kyle Lohse	    CIN	 NL	2007	7	7	47.7	9.82	1.70	6.04	0.76	3.21	3.40	3.31	1.32	 5.7	10.8	.320
14. Jamie Moyer	   PHI	 NL	2007	6	6	41.0	6.80	3.07	5.93	0.22	2.85	3.07	3.11	1.41	 5.8	10.2	.250
15. Livan Hernandez  ARI    NL	2007	7	7	45.0	7.60	5.60	4.20	0.20	3.20	3.40	3.35	1.31	 5.2	10.0	.262
16. Matt Cain        SFN	 NL	2007	6	6	38.0	4.74	4.97	5.92	0.47	3.08	3.08	3.05	1.44	 5.6	 9.7	.182
17. Bronson Arroyo   CIN	 NL	2007	7	7	47.3	7.23	2.85	6.65	0.19	2.85	3.61	3.52	1.25	 4.5	 9.6	.278
18. Tom Gorzelanny   PIT	 NL	2007	6	6	39.3	7.78	2.52	5.49	0.23	2.97	3.20	3.20	1.37	 5.2	 9.4	.277
19. Ted Lilly	     CHN	 NL	2007	6	6	38.3	7.04	1.41	8.92	0.47	2.82	3.29	3.21	1.37	 5.0	 9.1	.283

Edited May 8, 2007 by 98navigator