5/10 Pirates (Maholm) @ Cubs (Big Z) - 1:20 - WGN TV/Radio

[Derwood]

Today's Matchup:

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/mlb/images/team_logos/50x50/chc.gif 16-15

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/images/gameday/mugshots/mlb/407296.jpg

Carlos Zambrano: 3-2, 5.80

 

vs.

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/mlb/images/team_logos/50x50/pit.gif 14-18

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/images/gameday/mugshots/mlb/430904.jpg

Paul Maholm: 1-4, 5.51

 

Local TV: WGN

National TV: WGN Superstation

Extra Innings: None

Local Radio: WGN 720AM

XM Radio: 184

 

Cubs Record with Derwood as Game Thread Starter: 1-0

Edited May 10, 2007 by Derwood

[tfarks]

Z does have to become good again, right?

[inari]

Hey Z, you're our ace? Prove it.

 

Gotta win this one.

[Omar]

Pittsburgh Pirates Vs. Carlos Zambrano

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/7627/piratesvszlt7.jpg

 

Chicago Cubs Vs. Paul Maholm

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/2518/cubsvsmalholmko0.jpg

[Brian]

I'd be pretty happy if Z didn't suck.

[98navigator]

I'm going to this game (first of the season). Z, don't disappoint. :D

[Mark_R]

I'll be there! (Watch the losing streak get to 11)

[98navigator]

I'll be there! (Watch the losing streak get to 11)

 

It better not. ;)

[Butterscup1679666578]

Another series win would be sweet.

[Ding Dong Johnson]

don't suck

[baseball7897]

Please win.

[Drew Doughty]

awesome. game on TV the day after my school year ends.

[IWU_CUBS_FAN]

cmon Z let's not have a bad inning like last friday

[MPrior]

Wow. Bay owns Z - and in a significant # of ABs, too.

[Guest]

Wow. Bay owns Z - and in a significant # of ABs, too.

 

Going all the way back to 2003 when Bay hit 2 HRs in the waning days of the regular season.

[moorecg]

I'll be there! (Watch the losing streak get to 11)

 

If it does you are officially banned from the park until the Cubs have clinched a playoff birth.

[soapy]

what are the odds we see the same lineup back to back with another LHP on the mound? probably not good as I'm guessing Blanco is likely to start this one.

[CubColtPacer]

what are the odds we see the same lineup back to back with another LHP on the mound? probably not good as I'm guessing Blanco is likely to start this one.

 

Yeah, it would be shocking to me if Blanco didn't start this game:

 

day game after night game

Barrett caught 15 innings 2 nights ago

left-hander on the mound for the opposition

Blanco is 2-5 against this pitcher

Z is on the mound

 

All the factors say a Blanco start is coming. My guess is that the rest of the lineup will be the same, but there could be 1 or 2 other small changes.

[jersey cubs fan]

what are the odds we see the same lineup back to back with another LHP on the mound? probably not good as I'm guessing Blanco is likely to start this one.

 

Yeah, it would be shocking to me if Blanco didn't start this game:

 

day game after night game

Barrett caught 15 innings 2 nights ago

left-hander on the mound for the opposition

Blanco is 2-5 against this pitcher

Z is on the mound

 

All the factors say a Blanco start is coming. My guess is that the rest of the lineup will be the same, but there could be 1 or 2 other small changes.

 

My first instinct would be to think he'd sit Jones, since he's really cooled down after that brief hot streak, and already ranks third on the team in most playing time. And of course since he can't hit lefties at all, and never has. But when you think about how much stock Lou puts into coddling his veterans' egos and the thought of showing faith in Jones by putting him right back out there, I begin to doubt that idea. But it would be smart to give Felix "I've got 6 at bats in the past 7 days" Pie a start before he rots any further, at least taking advantage of his clear defensive edge over Jones.

[Sarcastic]

I'm excused for the second half of the school day for AP exams, so I finally get to watch a day game during the week. They'd better not mess it up.

[CubColtPacer]

what are the odds we see the same lineup back to back with another LHP on the mound? probably not good as I'm guessing Blanco is likely to start this one.

 

Yeah, it would be shocking to me if Blanco didn't start this game:

 

day game after night game

Barrett caught 15 innings 2 nights ago

left-hander on the mound for the opposition

Blanco is 2-5 against this pitcher

Z is on the mound

 

All the factors say a Blanco start is coming. My guess is that the rest of the lineup will be the same, but there could be 1 or 2 other small changes.

 

My first instinct would be to think he'd sit Jones, since he's really cooled down after that brief hot streak, and already ranks third on the team in most playing time. And of course since he can't hit lefties at all, and never has. But when you think about how much stock Lou puts into coddling his veterans' egos and the thought of showing faith in Jones by putting him right back out there, I begin to doubt that idea. But it would be smart to give Felix "I've got 6 at bats in the past 7 days" Pie a start before he rots any further, at least taking advantage of his clear defensive edge over Jones.

 

The next most likely change I have is the Pie for Jones today, but the only reason I'm reluctant is two things-1) I'm not sure Lou wants to put Pie or Blanco in the 7 spot, and 2) Lou seems to like double-switching Pie in for whichever OF batted last in the middle innings.

[Derwood]

i'd think that the, what, 9 LOB for Jones last night should see him benched

[jersey cubs fan]

i'd think that the, what, 9 LOB for Jones last night should see him benched

 

I'd like to see him benched because he can't hit lefties. But I don't like using the 9 LOB yesterday as the reason. That kind of thing happens. And you really can't kill Jones for that. His GM and manager should never put him in a position to do such a thing in the first place, even if Jones feels he should start everyday. You're talking about a guy who, over the course of his career, makes an out 72.5% of the time he faces a lefty. Making 4-5 outs in a row against a LHP is really nothing.

[anabiono]

this is the game where Z finally brings the nasty and never looks back

[davearm]

what are the odds we see the same lineup back to back with another LHP on the mound? probably not good as I'm guessing Blanco is likely to start this one.

 

Yeah, it would be shocking to me if Blanco didn't start this game:

 

day game after night game

Barrett caught 15 innings 2 nights ago

left-hander on the mound for the opposition

Blanco is 2-5 against this pitcher

Z is on the mound

 

All the factors say a Blanco start is coming. My guess is that the rest of the lineup will be the same, but there could be 1 or 2 other small changes.

Seems to me it would've made more sense to sit Barrett yesterday.

 

Give him his offday after the 15 inning game, rather than the day after a night game.

 

Maybe the Z factor scotched that thought.