7/3 CUBS (Zambrano) vs Nat's (Redding), 6:05pm CT, WGN-TV

[CubColtPacer]

Looking ahead...

I love how, in all that talk about pitchers having excellent seasons despite the lack of wins, those articles are written like the win category is a hurdle that needs to be overcome, rather than admit that wins are a worthless measuring stick. No pitcher with a 1-5 record and a 3.47 ERA is going to feel bad about his season, other than perhaps that it's being spent with the wrong team.

 

I don't know about that-pitchers get pretty concerned about their win-loss record. It doesn't mean much as a stat, but pitchers themselves do care about it, and I'm sure that many care about wins more than their ERA, which is kind of strange.

[CubmanPi]

Looking ahead...

I love how, in all that talk about pitchers having excellent seasons despite the lack of wins, those articles are written like the win category is a hurdle that needs to be overcome, rather than admit that wins are a worthless measuring stick. No pitcher with a 1-5 record and a 3.47 ERA is going to feel bad about his season, other than perhaps that it's being spent with the wrong team.

 

I don't know about that-pitchers get pretty concerned about their win-loss record. It doesn't mean much as a stat, but pitchers themselves do care about it, and I'm sure that many care about wins more than their ERA, which is kind of strange.

I guess it makes sense. The mentality of wins being worthless is based off the fact that you need the other 24 guys on the team to perform in order for you to get that one tally mark on your record, so if a pitcher doesn't get the win, he either a) didn't do enough, or b) is happy with his performance and blames his teammates.

[jjgman21]

Game Notes

 

ON THE RUN: The Chicago Cubs last night upped their run to 9 wins in their last 10 games with a 7-2 win at Washington to start a 4-game series here in the Nation’s Capitol…starting one month ago today on June 3, the Cubs have gone 19-9 (.679) in their last 28 games to post the best record in the majors in that span

 

 

so let's review what happened in that span.

 

the fallout from Barrett and Z and the subsequent trade that created a second offensive blackhole in the lineup

 

the fallout from Lou's tantrum and the outrageous 4 game suspension

 

the short end of the stick in a beanball war/dirty play war that basically cost the Cubs a fighting chance in two different ballgames.

 

yet another set of long extra inning games where the offense couldn't scratch together a run.

 

the short end of the stick in another beanball war.

 

an estranged team hero ironically hitting a milestone HR off a pitcher wearing his old uniform number.

 

a disheartening defensive lapse killing a chance at a great comeback.

 

a bullpen meltdown for the ages. 4 fricken pitches? c'mon.

 

a notorious Cub hating umpire 'coincidentally' showing up behind home plate in the biggest series of the year.

 

the team you're chasing crushing your starting pitcher in the first inning two games in a row.

 

a controversially nixed trade for a player and the fallout thereof.

 

a 15 day DL stint for the best (or at a minimum, one of the best ) hitter(s).

 

about 10 days without the closer.

 

a chronically taxed bullpen due to several of the above.

 

 

 

 

 

say all you want about the level of talent and the way the team is put together, but this is one of the most resilient teams I've ever seen.

[BleacherBadger]

Definately agree. About a month ago, I basically refused to even look at the sports section or watch espn due to the Cubs. Since then...

 

No reason not to sweep the Nats. I hear 10 of 11, and then 11 of 12.

 

Let's go Cubs.

[otis89]

Game Notes

 

ON THE RUN: The Chicago Cubs last night upped their run to 9 wins in their last 10 games with a 7-2 win at Washington to start a 4-game series here in the Nation’s Capitol…starting one month ago today on June 3, the Cubs have gone 19-9 (.679) in their last 28 games to post the best record in the majors in that span

 

 

so let's review what happened in that span.

 

the fallout from Barrett and Z and the subsequent trade that created a second offensive blackhole in the lineup

 

the fallout from Lou's tantrum and the outrageous 4 game suspension

 

the short end of the stick in a beanball war/dirty play war that basically cost the Cubs a fighting chance in two different ballgames.

 

yet another set of long extra inning games where the offense couldn't scratch together a run.

 

the short end of the stick in another beanball war.

 

an estranged team hero ironically hitting a milestone HR off a pitcher wearing his old uniform number.

 

a disheartening defensive lapse killing a chance at a great comeback.

 

a bullpen meltdown for the ages. 4 fricken pitches? c'mon.

 

a notorious Cub hating umpire 'coincidentally' showing up behind home plate in the biggest series of the year.

 

the team you're chasing crushing your starting pitcher in the first inning two games in a row.

 

a controversially nixed trade for a player and the fallout thereof.

 

a 15 day DL stint for the best (or at a minimum, one of the best ) hitter(s).

 

about 10 days without the closer.

 

a chronically taxed bullpen due to several of the above.

 

 

 

 

 

say all you want about the level of talent and the way the team is put together, but this is one of the most resilient teams I've ever seen.

 

Simply amazing. If Dusty was still the manager, this team would've curled up and died after everything that happened.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

A few tidbits from the Nationals game notes.

 

Since winning 6 of 7 at RFK from May 11-17, the Nationals have dropped 13 of 19 in DC...in the same nearly 6-week span, the Nationals have dropped 5 of 6 series at RFK...the lone series win came while taking 2 of 3 from CLE, June 22-24, to conclude interleague play.

 

Washington has allowed 5 or more runs 11 times during the 19-game lull at RFK.

 

Contrary to popular belief, RFK Stadium is not the pitcher’s paradise that many believe it is...RFK enters play today ranked 10th among NL ballpark in runs scored per game at 8.625.

 

The 6 NL ballparks averaging fewer runs per game than RFK this year are PNC Park (8.6 runs per game), Shea Stadium (8.5), Dodger Stadium (8.4), AT&T Park (8.2), Turner Field (8.1) and MLB’s most offensively-challenging landscape, Petco Park (6.9).

 

With Tim Redding slated to make his ‘07 big league debut tonight, know that he will become the 20th different pitcher, the 10th starter, to toe the rubber for Manny Acta in 2007...with Redding’s Nationals debut, Washington will tie PHI for most starting pitchers used in the NL in ‘07.

 

Before this season, the Nationals/Expos had not dropped a

season series to CHI since going 2-7 in 1998...in 8-plus seasons

since the 2-7 mark in ‘98, the Nationals (9-7) and Expos

(22-18) are 31-25 (.554) against the Cubs.

[illiniguy]

Game Notes

 

ON THE RUN: The Chicago Cubs last night upped their run to 9 wins in their last 10 games with a 7-2 win at Washington to start a 4-game series here in the Nation’s Capitol…starting one month ago today on June 3, the Cubs have gone 19-9 (.679) in their last 28 games to post the best record in the majors in that span

 

 

so let's review what happened in that span.

 

the fallout from Barrett and Z and the subsequent trade that created a second offensive blackhole in the lineup

 

the fallout from Lou's tantrum and the outrageous 4 game suspension

 

the short end of the stick in a beanball war/dirty play war that basically cost the Cubs a fighting chance in two different ballgames.

 

yet another set of long extra inning games where the offense couldn't scratch together a run.

 

the short end of the stick in another beanball war.

 

an estranged team hero ironically hitting a milestone HR off a pitcher wearing his old uniform number.

 

a disheartening defensive lapse killing a chance at a great comeback.

 

a bullpen meltdown for the ages. 4 fricken pitches? c'mon.

 

a notorious Cub hating umpire 'coincidentally' showing up behind home plate in the biggest series of the year.

 

the team you're chasing crushing your starting pitcher in the first inning two games in a row.

 

a controversially nixed trade for a player and the fallout thereof.

 

a 15 day DL stint for the best (or at a minimum, one of the best ) hitter(s).

 

about 10 days without the closer.

 

a chronically taxed bullpen due to several of the above.

 

 

 

 

 

say all you want about the level of talent and the way the team is put together, but this is one of the most resilient teams I've ever seen.

 

Simply amazing. If Dusty was still the manager, this team would've curled up and died after everything that happened.

Yep with Jones in center, Izturis at ss, and Wade Miller going every 5th day.

[CubmanPi]

 

say all you want about the level of talent and the way the team is put together, but this is one of the most resilient teams I've ever seen.

 

Simply amazing. If Dusty was still the manager, this team would've curled up and died after everything that happened.

Yep with Jones in center, Izturis at ss, and Wade Miller going every 5th day.

The first two months, with some of the bullpen and starting lineup decisions, Lou was starting to make me wonder. Of course now, he has adopted a keen policy of not starting Jones or Izturis, and he avoids Eyre to a very pleasing extent.

 

Looking back, he was good about giving people playing time but also giving people chances, and now that he has given chances to his liking, he is reacting accordingly and things are working out.

 

Plus, I'm not sure he got due credit for his ejection. The day before, with the Barrett-Z scuffle, the team had pretty much hit the season's lowpoint, and the next day, Lou comes out and takes the attention off the team. Obviously a lot of other things had to go right, but I think that was a pretty effective plug in a rapidly draining tub.

[killthegoat06]

Is it game time yet?

[Allroy]

Here's to Z getting his no hitter tonight!

[killthegoat06]

A win is still acceptable, though, Z.

[illiniguy]

 

say all you want about the level of talent and the way the team is put together, but this is one of the most resilient teams I've ever seen.

 

Simply amazing. If Dusty was still the manager, this team would've curled up and died after everything that happened.

Yep with Jones in center, Izturis at ss, and Wade Miller going every 5th day.

The first two months, with some of the bullpen and starting lineup decisions, Lou was starting to make me wonder. Of course now, he has adopted a keen policy of not starting Jones or Izturis, and he avoids Eyre to a very pleasing extent.

 

Looking back, he was good about giving people playing time but also giving people chances, and now that he has given chances to his liking, he is reacting accordingly and things are working out.

 

Plus, I'm not sure he got due credit for his ejection. The day before, with the Barrett-Z scuffle, the team had pretty much hit the season's lowpoint, and the next day, Lou comes out and takes the attention off the team. Obviously a lot of other things had to go right, but I think that was a pretty effective plug in a rapidly draining tub.

I agree, he definately took one for the team. Dusty would have been pretty busy blaming the umps and the day games. Lou has done a pretty good job this year. Sure, there are some things I wish he wouldn't do such as Pagan over Pie, but for the most part I can't complain too much.

[kujay]

With Tim Redding slated to make his ‘07 big league debut tonight, know that he will become the 20th different pitcher, the 10th starter, to toe the rubber for Manny Acta in 2007...with Redding’s Nationals debut, Washington will tie PHI for most starting pitchers used in the NL in ‘07.

 

Last night during the MASN telecast of the game they said 20 different starters. Then they said, "not 20 total pitchers, but 20 starters!" Knew that couldn't be correct.

 

For all the horror of 2006, did the Cubs even start half that many last year?

[Ding Dong Johnson]

With Tim Redding slated to make his ‘07 big league debut tonight, know that he will become the 20th different pitcher, the 10th starter, to toe the rubber for Manny Acta in 2007...with Redding’s Nationals debut, Washington will tie PHI for most starting pitchers used in the NL in ‘07.

 

Last night during the MASN telecast of the game they said 20 different starters. Then they said, "not 20 total pitchers, but 20 starters!" Knew that couldn't be correct.

 

For all the horror of 2006, did the Cubs even start half that many last year?

 

no, it's just the 10th starter

 

Link

[CubColtPacer]

With Tim Redding slated to make his ‘07 big league debut tonight, know that he will become the 20th different pitcher, the 10th starter, to toe the rubber for Manny Acta in 2007...with Redding’s Nationals debut, Washington will tie PHI for most starting pitchers used in the NL in ‘07.

 

Last night during the MASN telecast of the game they said 20 different starters. Then they said, "not 20 total pitchers, but 20 starters!" Knew that couldn't be correct.

 

For all the horror of 2006, did the Cubs even start half that many last year?

 

The Cubs had 15 different starting pitchers in 06.

[Derwood]

the yankees have had 12 different starting pitchers so far

[Danny82]

Lineups are up:

 

Chi Cubs

Soriano lf

Theriot ss

Dee 1b

Floyd rf

DeRosa 3b

Fontenot 2b

Pagan cf

Hill c

Zambrano p

 

Washington

Langerhans cf

Belliard 2b

Zimmerman 3b

Young 1b

Church lf

Lopez ss

Schneider c

Fick rf

Redding p

[Keener98]

Hooray for sitting Pie once again, cant have him too tired out there.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Lineups are up:

 

Chi Cubs

Soriano lf

Theriot ss

Dee 1b

Floyd rf

DeRosa 3b

Fontenot 2b

Pagan cf

Hill c

Zambrano p

 

Washington

Langerhans cf

Belliard 2b

Zimmerman 3b

Young 1b

Church lf

Lopez ss

Schneider c

Fick rf

Redding p

 

Still no Pie.

 

Maybe we should send him back down.

[jersey cubs fan]

Still no Pie.

 

Maybe we should send him back down.

 

If this little breather lasts through the break, then definitely.

[Lockes Eye Scar]

4 straight games Pie has been benched against a righty

[Keener98]

4 straight games Pie has been benched against a righty

 

Well we have Carlos Beltran Jr, so whats a manager to do?

[C.C.]

No Ram?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

No Ram?

 

It's a scheduled day off for him.

[C.C.]

No Ram?

 

It's a scheduled day off for him.

 

Ah! Thanks.