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

[seanimal]

I predict Derrek Lee will not hit a home run.

[inari]

I predict Koyie Hill will not have an extra base hit.

[CubmanPi]

Winning > Losing

 

Comprende?

 

BOOOOO losing! HooRAAAAYYY Winning!

[CubsBears29]

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g302/gregvan83/ZWAGUN.jpg

 

 

"Say 'hello' to my lil friend!!!"

 

:lol:

[98navigator]

FYI, Aramis has a scheduled day off today (both because Z has been pitching well and hasn't needed a lot of runs and because there's an early morning start tomorrow). DeRo will most likely play 3B tonight.

 

EDIT: The Tribune is also reporting that Fontenot will be back at 2B tonight after last night's day off.

Edited July 3, 2007 by 98navigator

[TruffleShuffle]

Winning > Losing

 

Comprende?

 

¿QUE?

 

Que my ass.... que my ass!!!

 

cobs lose, i start rich hill game thread

[CubColtPacer]

FYI, Aramis has a scheduled day off today (both because Z has been pitching well and hasn't needed a lot of runs and because there's an early morning start tomorrow). DeRo will most likely play 3B tonight.

 

EDIT: The Tribune is also reporting that Fontenot will be back at 2B tonight after last night's day off.

 

Sounds good to me. I knew another Ramirez day off was coming soon, and this seems like the best day to do it (and the Cubs got lucky-it gets even better compared to other days when you consider that Aramis has not been good against Redding). Hopefully this is his last day off before the break.

[killthegoat06]

Let's make it 10 out of 11!!!

[CubmanPi]

Let's make it 10 out of 11!!!

Anyone know when the last time was that the Cubs won 9 of 10?

[killthegoat06]

Let's make it 10 out of 11!!!

Anyone know when the last time was that the Cubs won 9 of 10?

 

1908?

[cubscausestress]

the roller coaster starts the downward slope today, kids. hang on!

[Schwarber Fan]

When do you think Aramis will get his next offday? Just wondering as I am seeing the Cubs in Pittsburgh this weekend.

[killthegoat06]

When do you think Aramis will get his next offday? Just wondering as I am seeing the Cubs in Pittsburgh this weekend.

 

Earlier in the thread it said that he is getting one today.

[Andy]

When do you think Aramis will get his next offday? Just wondering as I am seeing the Cubs in Pittsburgh this weekend.

 

Earlier in the thread it said that he is getting one today.

Which means you probably won't miss him in Pittsburgh, AF.

[UMFan83]

Let's make it 10 out of 11!!!

Anyone know when the last time was that the Cubs won 9 of 10?

 

June 12th - June 22nd in 2004.

 

Won 2 @ Anaheim

Won 4 @ Houston

Lost 1 vs. Oakland

Won 2 vs. Oakland

Won 1 vs. St. Louis

 

The Cubs went on to go 9-14 in their next 23 games after that stretch.

 

But the LAST time it happened was from May 27th to June 5 in 2005

 

Won 3 vs. Colorado

Won 3 @ Los Angeles

Won 1 @ San Diego

Lost 1 @ San Diego

Won 2 @ San Diego

 

The Cubs went 10-19 in their next 29 games after that stretch.

[Schwarber Fan]

When do you think Aramis will get his next offday? Just wondering as I am seeing the Cubs in Pittsburgh this weekend.

 

Earlier in the thread it said that he is getting one today.

Which means you probably won't miss him in Pittsburgh, AF.

 

thanks

 

and killthegoat06, I obviously meant his next off day after this one :wink:

[killthegoat06]

Let's make it 10 out of 11!!!

Anyone know when the last time was that the Cubs won 9 of 10?

 

June 12th - June 22nd in 2004.

 

Won 2 @ Anaheim

Won 4 @ Houston

Lost 1 vs. Oakland

Won 2 vs. Oakland

Won 1 vs. St. Louis

 

The Cubs went on to go 9-14 in their next 23 games after that stretch.

 

But the LAST time it happened was from May 27th to June 5 in 2005

 

Won 3 vs. Colorado

Won 3 @ Los Angeles

Won 1 @ San Diego

Lost 1 @ San Diego

Won 2 @ San Diego

 

The Cubs went 10-19 in their next 29 games after that stretch.

 

Ewww,. Let's not start a crappy stretch today!

[CubmanPi]

Let's make it 10 out of 11!!!

Anyone know when the last time was that the Cubs won 9 of 10?

 

June 12th - June 22nd in 2004.

 

Won 2 @ Anaheim

Won 4 @ Houston

Lost 1 vs. Oakland

Won 2 vs. Oakland

Won 1 vs. St. Louis

 

The Cubs went on to go 9-14 in their next 23 games after that stretch.

 

But the LAST time it happened was from May 27th to June 5 in 2005

 

Won 3 vs. Colorado

Won 3 @ Los Angeles

Won 1 @ San Diego

Lost 1 @ San Diego

Won 2 @ San Diego

 

The Cubs went 10-19 in their next 29 games after that stretch.

 

Ewww,. Let's not start a crappy stretch today!

Given the schedule over the next month, it's safe to say that a similar crappy stretch would end our season.

 

But with how fun winning has been, I think the Cubs should just go ahead and keep it going.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

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…after 4 games here, the Cubs play 3 this weekend in Pittsburgh leading to the All-Star Break next week.

 

 

After their loss on June 2, the Cubs were a season-low 9 games under .500 at 22-31 through 53 games prior to their current 28-game run to return to above .500 at 41-40…at one-game above .500, the Cubs have reached their 2007 “high-water” mark for the fourth time, the first time since May 9 at 16-15…the Cubs were also 15-14 and 3-2 this season.

 

Chicago tonight looks to climb two games above .500 for the first time since 14 months ago today when the club was 14-12 on May 3, 2006.

The Cubs boast an above-.500 record at the season’s 81-game halfway point for the first time since 2004 (46-35).

 

10 SPOT?: Cubs starting pitcher Carlos Zambrano enters tonight’s game with a team-leading 9 wins and looks to become the first Cubs pitcher with 10 wins by the All-Star Break since Jon Lieber posted 11 wins before the Break in 2001…in the last 50 years starting in 1957, only 13 Cubs pitchers have won at least 10 games by the Break.

 

Zambrano tonight has a chance to become the 3rd pitcher in the National League to double digits in wins, joining Milwaukee’s Ben Sheets and Los Angeles’ Brad Penny, both of whom have 10 wins.

 

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE: This series in Washington (33-49) 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 (35-47) to head into the All-Star Break…after the festivities in San Francisco, the Cubs return home to Wrigley Field to host Houston (36-47) for 3 games and San Francisco (35-45) for 4 games before Arizona (46-38) snaps that run with 3 games on the North Side of Chicago.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

More from the game notes....

 

AT THE PLATE: The Cubs lead the National League with a .270 batting average (773-for-2866), one point ahead of the Rockies and Braves and their .269 team marks.

 

The Cubs have been remarkably consistent at the plate in the last month beginning June 3, batting .277 (270-for-974) to maintain a team batting average that has not dipped below .267 or risen above .271 in the last 28 games.

 

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!: The Chicago Cubs are in the Nation’s Capitol for the Fourth of July for the first time in franchise history…the Cubs have previously played 3 games against an opponent from Washington D.C. on the Fourth in Chicago a somewhat long time ago: in 1889, when the Cubs swept a doubleheader 11-4 and 8-5; and in 1897, a 16-7 victory.

 

The Cubs have played more games on the Fourth of July than any other day, posting a 115-92 record…the 115 wins are their most on any calendar day all-time.

 

FAST STARTERS: Chicago is 8-1 in its last 9 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).

 

FIRST THINGS FIRST: Chicago has allowed 47 first-inning runs this season, the most runs the Cubs have surrendered in any frame this season…conversely, Chicago’s 65 runs scored in the first inning are the most they’ve plated in any frame this year.

 

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.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

And a little more....

 

About Zambrano

Carlos, 26, is making his 18th start of the season … he made his third straight Opening Day start April 2 in Cincinnati but was tagged with the 5-1 loss before winning his next start, April 7 in Milwaukee.

 

Is currently 1 of 5 N.L. pitchers involved in the N.L. Final Vote on MLB.com, with winner earning the 32nd roster spot on this season’s N.L. All-Star team.

 

Owns a 73-48 career record with a 3.38 ERA (409 ER/1088.1 IP) in 184 games (163 starts).

 

The right-hander was the Cubs’ lone representative for the 2006 All-Star Game in Pittsburgh … it marked the second time he’s been named to the National League All-Star Team (also 2004).

 

Zambrano did not pitch in the 2006 Mid-Summer Classic.

 

Zambrano was signed by the Cubs as a non-drafted free agent in July 1997 … he rose through the farm system, reaching the Majors as a 20-year-old in 2001.

 

Has recorded 7.95 strikeouts per 9.0 innings pitched as a starter (944 SO/1069.1 IP) … that ranks fourth-highest all-time among Cubs starting pitchers (min. 500.0 IP) … Mark Prior is first with a 10.37 mark, followed by Kerry Wood (10.36) and Matt Clement (8.82).

 

His 12 career home runs rank tied for second-most among Cubs pitchers in franchise history (with Claude Passeau) while his six dingers in 2006 tied Fergie Jenkins (in 1971) for the single-season record by a Cubs pitcher.

 

Pitched for Venezuela in the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006, going 1-0 with a 5.40 ERA (4 ER/6.2 IP) in two games, one start.

 

Last Time Out

Earned his fourth victory of June and helped the Cubs complete a 3-game sweep vs. Colorado with a 6-4 win June 27 … he worked 6.0 innings, allowing 2 runs on 5 hits with 3 walks while striking out 8.

2007 Season

 

Has a 7.41 ERA (14 ER/17.0 IP) in the first inning this season, compared to a 3.59 ERA (38 ER/95.1 IP) in his other innings combined … right-handed hitters are batting just .177 (37-for-209) against him, but lefties are hitting .314 (64-for-204).

 

His 43 June strikeouts led the majors, with Boston’s Daisuke Matsuzaka and Chicago’s (AL) Javier Vazquez finishing second with 42 … the last time he struck out that many in a single month was May of last season, retiring 47.

 

Has worked 9 quality starts in 17 outings, including each of his last 5 games.

 

Is 4-1, with a 1.43 ERA (6 ER/37.2 IP) over his last 5 outings, allowing 2 or fewer earned runs in each of those starts … has won 5 of his last 7 starts, posting a 2.50 ERA (14 ER/50.1 IP) in that span.

 

Has pitched at least 6.0 innings in 11 of his last 12 starts.

 

Has left the game with the lead in 12 of his 17 starts.

 

Owns a 3.25 ERA (20 ER/55.1 IP) in 8 road starts compared to a 5.14 ERA (32 ER/56.0 IP) in 9 home starts.

 

Went 3-2 in 5 starts in May with a 4.72 ERA (18 ER/34.1 IP), posted a 2-2 record in 6 starts in April with a 5.77 ERA (22 ER/34.1 IP) and was 4-2 with an ERA of 2.53 (12 ER/42.2 IP) in 6 June starts.

[Guest]

Yes, the key after this streak is to not revert back to April-May form.

[CubsBears29]

Let's make it 10 out of 11!!!

Anyone know when the last time was that the Cubs won 9 of 10?

 

June 12th - June 22nd in 2004.

 

Won 2 @ Anaheim

Won 4 @ Houston

Lost 1 vs. Oakland

Won 2 vs. Oakland

Won 1 vs. St. Louis

 

The Cubs went on to go 9-14 in their next 23 games after that stretch.

 

But the LAST time it happened was from May 27th to June 5 in 2005

 

Won 3 vs. Colorado

Won 3 @ Los Angeles

Won 1 @ San Diego

Lost 1 @ San Diego

Won 2 @ San Diego

 

The Cubs went 10-19 in their next 29 games after that stretch.

 

 

Buzzkill.

[98navigator]

Looking ahead...

 

It goes without saying, although I will say it here, that the Cubs have to take care of their own business. However, looking ahead at the probables between the Brewers and Pirates, I see some intriguing matchups: Claudio Vargas (6-1, 4.29) vs. Ian Snell (6-5, 2.90) and Ben Sheets (10-3, 3.19) vs. Tom Gorzelanny (8-4, 3.05).

 

This means that the Cubs will miss the Pirates two best pitchers and that the Buccos may be able to split their four game series with the Brewers (allowing the Cubs the opportunity to gain ground).

 

Snell took a no-decision in his last start, a 3-2 Pirates win over the Nationals on Friday. He was efficient the entire night, as he did not allow a walk and limited Washington to two earned runs over seven innings of work for his 12th quality start of the season. Snell is 3-0 with a 3.36 ERA in his career against the Brewers.

 

In his last outing, against the Nationals on Saturday, Gorzelanny threw his 12th quality start of the season and earned the win. He stifled Washington's offense all night, allowing just two earned runs on five hits and three walks with six strikeouts in 7 1/3 innings of work. Gorzelanny has faced the Brewers three times previously, including two starts, going 1-0 with a sparkling 1.84 ERA against them.

 

Conversely, the Cubs are going to have to contend with the Nationals' two best starters; Rich Hill (5-5, 3.48) vs. Matt Chico (3-5, 4.74) and Sean Marshall (4-3, 3.50) vs. Jason Bergmann (1-5, 3.47).

 

Chico hasn't won a game since May 17, when he pitched six innings against the Braves at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium. But talk to Chico about going eight starts without a victory and he will tell you he is not frustrated. He feels he is making progress during his rookie season. Last Friday's outing turned out to be Chico's best of the season, as he tossed six shutout innings and gave up just six hits against the Pirates.

 

Bergmann has been arguably the Nationals' best starting pitcher this season, but he had nothing in the tank against the Pirates last Saturday. After Washington gave him a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning off left-hander Tom Gorzelanny, Bergmann quickly gave it up in the bottom of the second inning when Pittsburgh batted around and scored six runs.

[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.