6/6 CUBS (Z) @ Brewers (Suppan) 1:05 WGN

[Allroy]

Has there been some sort of fog/smoke situation going on inside Miller Park?

 

Last night they mentioned something about fireworks for HR's. Do they even do that there?

 

They do. Saw it myself Monday night.

 

That was the smoke from Lou's cigar.

 

I forsee Z holding up to his promise, hitting 107 on the gun on the first pitch as his arm comes out socket and spins around like a pinwheel. The ball goes straight through Barrett's glove and rips his head clean off. The Cubs then go on to win handily.

 

With this bullpen? Yeah, right.

 

Gallagher baby. Bring out the Sledge-O-Matic.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Game Notes.

 

The Cubs fell to the Brewers, 7-5, last night in Milwaukee and

need a win in today’s series finale to snap a 4-series losing streak since winning their last one, 2-games-to-1, May 18-20 vs. the White Sox … the Cubs, who have dropped 4 straight road series, can also win their first series away from home since taking 2-of-3 in Pittsburgh, April 30-May 2.

 

© Chicago has a chance to win consecutive series at Miller Park for the first time since 2004,

when the team took 3-of-4 July 26-29 and 2-of-3 August 17-19 … earlier this season, the Cubs went 2-1 in a 3-game set at Miller Park, April 6-8.

 

The Cubs have homered in a season-high 5 consecutive games

dating to June 1 vs. Atlanta … they have 9 homers in this span after managing just to go deep in just 2 of their previous 9 games, May 22-30 (4 homers total).

 

© Chicago is looking to homer in 6 consecutive games for the first time since September 6-11,

2006.

 

© Cliff Floyd’s solo homer in the sixth inning last night was just the Cubs second from a right

fielder all season … Floyd also went deep as the team’s right fielder May 1 in Pittsburgh …overall, Chicago outfielders have hit 15 home runs this season, with 5 of those coming this

month.

 

© Floyd’s homer last night was the eighth by a Cubs left-handed hitter … right-handed hitters have belted 45 long balls this season.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

More from the game notes...

 

Since May 30, Cubs hurlers have allowed just 12 walks for an average of 2 walks per game over the club’s last 6 contests … prior to that, Chicago’s pitching staff had issued 22 free passes over a 5-game stretch, May 25-29, for an average of 4.4 walks per game … the team is 20-14 when it allows 3 or fewer walks in a game compared to a 4-18 mark when it allows 4 or more walks per game … in fact, the Cubs have lost their last 9 games in which they walk 4 or more dating to May 8 vs. Pittsburgh.

 

© Cubs starting pitchers have walked 3 or fewer in each of the team’s last 10 starts since May 26 at Los Angeles.

 

© Of the club’s 188 walks issued this season, 78 have been allowed from the seventh inning or later (41-percent).

 

THE BATS ARE WAKING UP: Chicago is batting .318 over its last 3 contests, going 35-for-110 at the plate and has recorded at least 10 hits in each of those games … the squad has plated 22 runs over its last 3 games after scoring a total of 16 runs during their 6-game losing streak, May 27-June 2 … the Cubs are 16-9 when they collect 10 or more hits

in a game.

 

Chicago’s relievers have posted a 2.40 ERA (4 ER/15.0 IP) this month after recording a 5.52 (45 ER/73.1 IP) in May … in the team’s last 3 games, Cubs relievers have allowed just 1 earned run in 9.0 innings of work (1.00 ERA) … the Cubs bullpen combined to toss 3.2 scoreless innings Monday night, their longest scoreless outing of the season since tossing 5.0 shutout innings April 13 vs. Cincinnati.

 

© Chicago has stranded its last 7 inherited runners since June 2 … on the season, Chicago’s

bullpen has stranded 72 of 94 inherited runners, good for a 76.5-percent rate of success.

[Mizzou]

Lineups?

[pitchcs]

Cubs

 

A Soriano, LF .313

F Pie, CF .250

D Lee, 1B .350

A Ramirez, 3B .301

J Jones, RF .241

M DeRosa, 2B .258

R Theriot, SS .273

K Hill, C .111

C Zambrano, P .250

 

Brewers

 

C Hart, RF .298

J Hardy, SS .294

R Braun, 3B .311

P Fielder, 1B .294

J Estrada, C .264

G Jenkins, LF .282

B Hall, CF .260

C Counsell, 2B .234

J Suppan, P

[jersey cubs fan]

I like how Lou keeps talking about staying consistent with the lineup, while not staying consistent at all.

[inari]

What does Floyd have to do to get regular playing time? Jesus.

[gflore34]

I like how Lou keeps talking about staying consistent with the lineup, while not staying consistent at all.

 

Barring injury and an occasional day off I believe 1-4 is set for the remainder of the season however, 5-8...

[pitchcs]

I like how Lou keeps talking about staying consistent with the lineup, while not staying consistent at all.

 

Barring injury and an occasional day off I believe 1-4 is set for the remainder of the season however, 5-8...

 

Yeah, we're gonna end up losing games just to try and trade a guy nobody wants.

[NewUserName]

I like how Lou keeps talking about staying consistent with the lineup, while not staying consistent at all.

 

Barring injury and an occasional day off I believe 1-4 is set for the remainder of the season however, 5-8...

 

Yeah, we're gonna end up losing games just to try and trade a guy nobody wants.

 

The more he is played the less his trade value is going to be. That is what is really sad.

 

Maybe Floyd aggrevated his Rib thing.

[gflore34]

I like how Lou keeps talking about staying consistent with the lineup, while not staying consistent at all.

 

Barring injury and an occasional day off I believe 1-4 is set for the remainder of the season however, 5-8...

 

Yeah, we're gonna end up losing games just to try and trade a guy nobody wants.

 

The more he is played the less his trade value is going to be. That is what is really sad.

 

Maybe Floyd aggrevated his Rib thing.

 

He lunged pretty well to make that catch in 4th or 5th yesterday, didn't seem to hinder him as he later singled and homered.

[rabidawg900]

Vegas Trends of the day:

 

Cubs are 13-3 in Zambrano's last 16 starts as an underdog.

 

Brewers are 5-16 in their last 21 games with Umpire Randy Marsh behind home plate.

[UMFan83]

What does Floyd have to do to get regular playing time? Jesus.

 

He has to wait for Jones to get traded. Which is what they are doing by showcasing Jones

[Lockes Eye Scar]

Vegas Trends of the day:

 

Cubs are 13-3 in Zambrano's last 16 starts as an underdog.

 

Brewers are 5-16 in their last 21 games with Umpire Randy Marsh behind home plate.

 

Umpire splits... awesome

[98navigator]

Get it done Z!

 

Looking closer; Opponents hitting .277 versus Suppan

[soccer10k]

So I had a dream last night that the each team only got 1 hit but the Cubs won 3-2. Not sure what that means though.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Gallagher sighting!

 

And man...he really did get a haircut!

[inari]

I can't get my out of the mindset that we're going to the World Series if we win and we're heading for 2003 Detroit Tigers territory if we lose. Stupid, I know.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Soriano flies out to right.

[98navigator]

I can't get my out of the mindset that we're going to the World Series if we win and we're heading for 2003 Detroit Tigers territory if we lose. Stupid, I know.

 

This isn't make or break either way.

[soccer10k]

I love me some Felix Pie.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Pie hustles a single into a double.

[98navigator]

Pie hustle!

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Mmmmmm Pie.

[Moonlight Graham]

I like Pie.