7/2 CUBS (Lilly) vs Nationals (Simontacchi), 6:05pm CT, CSN

[Handlebar McSkullet]

http://www.thecityreview.com/trex1.gif

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

More from the game notes...

 

AT THE PLATE: The Cubs lead the National League with a .269 batting average (762-for-2829), one point ahead of the Rockies, Braves and Mets and their .268 team marks.

 

The Cubs have been remarkably consistent at the plate in the last month beginning June 3, batting .276 (259-for-937) to maintain a team batting average that has not dipped below .267 or risen above .271 in the last 27 games.

 

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE: This series in Washington (33-48) marks Chicago’s first of 4 series in a row against clubs currently owning a sub-.500 record…after 4 games in Washington, the Cubs play 3 games at Pittsburgh (35-46) to head into the All-Star Break…after the festivities in San Francisco, the Cubs return home to Wrigley Field to host Houston (35-47) for 3 games and San Francisco (35-45) for 4 games before Arizona (46-37) snaps that run with 3 games on the North Side of Chicago.

 

FAST STARTERS: Chicago is 7-1 in its last 8 series-opening games dating to June 4 in Milwaukee…the Cubs are 5-2-1 in their last 8 series, having won the last 3 series after dropping their previous 2 series vs. San Diego (1-2) and in Texas (1-2).

 

KEY ADDITIONS: Cubs starting pitchers Ted Lilly and Jason Marquis rank second and fourth in ERA among free agent starting pitchers who joined National League teams this season…Marquis’ 3.31 ERA is second only to the Mets’ Orlando Hernandez, who sports a 2.78 ERA after pitching for Arizona and New York last season.

Lilly’s 4.03 ERA ranks fourth among free agent starters who joined N.L. clubs this season…San Diego’s Greg Maddux is third with a 3.66 mark.

 

Lilly and Marquis, both 6-4 (.600), are tied with L.A.’s Randy Wolf for the third-best winning percentage among all starting pitchers who were free agents last off-season, behind Boston’s Daisuke Matsuzaka (9-5/.643) and Maddux (7-4/.636).

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Even more from the game notes...

 

TOP-NOTCH JUNE: The Cubs’ 17 June victories were tied for second-most in the majors with the Angels and Brewers while Seattle led all clubs with 18 wins…Chicago’s .607 winning percentage (17-11) ranked second in the Senior Circuit behind Milwaukee (.654), and fifth-best in the majors.

 

Alfonso Soriano led the majors with 11 home runs while his 41 hits were tops in the N.L.…his .697 slugging percentage was second in the N.L. (Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun, .716) and third in the majors (New York’s Alex Rodriguez, .781).

 

The Cubs this season swept a 3-game series from the Nationals at Wrigley Field May 4-6 and this week celebrate the Fourth of July with 4 games in the Nation’s Capitol to wrap up the 7-game season series…the Cubs aim for their first win in Washington D.C. since 2005, as Chicago was swept in a 3-game set here last year.

2007 Overall: ............................................3-0

At Wrigley Field: .....................................3-0

At RFK Stadium: .....................................0-0

2006 Overall: ............................................2-4

At Wrigley Field: .....................................2-1

At RFK Stadium: .....................................0-3

All-Time Since 1969 (Mon/Wash): ...254-280

At Wrigley Field: ..............................144-129

At RFK Stadium (since 2005): ..................1-5

 

Lilly has held hitters a .234 batting average (85-for-363) this season while walking 23 and striking out 87 … produced quality starts in his first 5 outings this season making him the first pitcher to toss quality starts in his first 5 outings as a Cub since Mike Harkey did it 6 straight times in 1988-90.

 

Was 3-0 with a 3.72 ERA (16 ER/38.2 IP) in 6 starts from April 25-May 25.

Of his 16 starts this season, 7 have come on the road … is 4-3 with a 3.25 ERA (22 ER/61.0 IP) in 9 Wrigley Field starts, compared to a 2-1 record with a 5.30 ERA (22 ER/37.1 IP) in 7 road outings.

 

Finished April 2-2 with a 2.18 ERA (8 ER/33.0 IP) in 5 starts.

 

Finished May 2-1 with a 4.66 ERA (20 ER/38.2 IP) in 6 starts.

 

Has 9 quality starts in 16 outings this season … has pitched into the sixth inning in 13 of his 16 starts this season.

 

Limiting right-handed hitters to a .235 batting average (68-for-289) while lefties are batting .230 (17-for-74) against him.

[Bruno7481]

If the Cubs were to go into the all star break at 47-40, or even 46-41, my excitement for the 2nd half is going to go through the roof.

 

At this point I'll take 45-42 even. I think 5-2 on this trip is a must.

[rawaction]

If the Cubs were to go into the all star break at 47-40, or even 46-41, my excitement for the 2nd half is going to go through the roof.

 

At this point I'll take 45-42 even. I think 5-2 on this trip is a must.

 

45-42 is what I'm expecting. 46-41 is what I hope for. 47-40 is a dream come true.

 

The matchups vs. Washington could be very tough, especially the last 2 games of the series. Hopefully, Hill and Marshall are a lot better than they were this weekend.

 

Vs. Pittsburgh. Gotta love anytime you miss Gorzo and Snell. I fully expect the Cubs to sweep them.

[A New Era]

Where do we stand in the fecal league? It would be interesting to see when we actually have a decent winning record.

[moorecg]

Vs. Pittsburgh. Gotta love anytime you miss Gorzo and Snell. I fully expect the Cubs to sweep them.

 

When was the last time this statement was ever said and actually believed? Its amazing how far we've come in 20 days.

[Moonlight Graham]

Lineups anyone?

[otis89]

Lineups anyone?

 

Nothing yet.

[ctcf]

In other, random news I suck and have lost my ipod.

 

Plz win Cubs.

[Derwood]

In other, random news I suck and have lost my ipod.

 

Plz win Cubs.

 

i lost mine 2 years ago and had dreams about looking for it/finding it for a year. no joke. thankfully my wife/parents/sister pooled together to get me an 80GB black one for my birthday

[Derwood]

nice that the lineups for the Houston/Philly game are up but not ours

[otis89]

nice that the lineups for the Houston/Philly game are up but not ours

 

It may just be me, but it seems like lineups for Cubs games always come out later than lineups for other games.

[CubColtPacer]

nice that the lineups for the Houston/Philly game are up but not ours

 

It may just be me, but it seems like lineups for Cubs games always come out later than lineups for other games.

 

Most of the time they do-the Cubs lineups are almost always one of the last ones to come out. I guess Lou likes to tinker with it until the very last moment.

[Derwood]

nice that the lineups for the Houston/Philly game are up but not ours

 

It may just be me, but it seems like lineups for Cubs games always come out later than lineups for other games.

 

the PHI/HOU game is an hour later too

[swordsman]

Any insight from our resident weather guru about what to expect for the next two series?

[rickrolled]

Soriano LF

Theriot SS

Lee 1B

Ramirez 3B

Floyd RF

DeRosa 2B

Pagan CF

Bowen C

Lilly P

[Bruce Miles]

Lineups

 

Cubs

Soriano, LF

Theriot, SS

Lee, 1B

Ramirez, 3B

Floyd, RF

DeRosa, 2B

Pagan, CF

Bowen, C

Lilly, P

 

Nats

Logan, CF

Belliard, 2B

Zimmerman, 3B

Young, 1B

Kearns, RF

Church, LF

Lopez, SS

Schneider, C

Simontacchi, P

[Omar]

Soriano LF

Theriot SS

Lee 1B

Ramirez 3B

Floyd RF

DeRosa 2B

Pagan CF

Bowen C

Lilly P

 

No Fontenot, no Pie.

 

If Pie isn't gonna play everyday, why is he in the majors??

[CubmanPi]

Lineups

 

Cubs

Soriano, LF

Theriot, SS

Lee, 1B

Ramirez, 3B

Floyd, RF

DeRosa, 2B

Pagan, CF

Bowen, C

Lilly, P

 

Nats

Logan, CF

Belliard, 2B

Zimmerman, 3B

Young, 1B

Kearns, RF

Church, LF

Lopez, SS

Schneider, C

Simontacchi, P

Yet another game without Izturis or Jones in the lineup. How much longer will they have roster spots?

[rickrolled]

omg I scooped Bruce

[E.J.]

Soriano LF

Theriot SS

Lee 1B

Ramirez 3B

Floyd RF

DeRosa 2B

Pagan CF

Bowen C

Lilly P

 

Soto Please.

[tfarks]

Soriano LF

Theriot SS

Lee 1B

Ramirez 3B

Floyd RF

DeRosa 2B

Pagan CF

Bowen C

Lilly P

 

Soto Please.

 

Word...oh and Fontenot getting rest is a good thing. The bottom of this lineup shall terrorize the Nats.

[Guest]

Am I mistaken or is that three straight games against a righty that Pie has sat?

[Coach C]

FWIW, Gameday Audio is giving us the oppiturnity to listen any game we want for free, from July 1 to July 14th.

 

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/subscriptions/gameday_audio.jsp?c_id=chc