7/4 CUBS (Hill) vs. Nats (Chico), 11:05am CT, WGN-TV, XM 183

[killthegoat06]

I agree with Mizzou. Catcher is our biggest offensive hole, imo. (yes bob sanders, I changed my mind about cubs not having any holes).

[UMFan83]

I would like Bowen to get out of his 0-20 slump today. He is 1-21 with the Cubs

[gerby23]

Anyone know, maybe I missed it, but why did Fontenot move from the #2 hole? Tought we had a real good 1-2 punch going there.

 

I think Lou wanted him in more RBI situations since he had been slugging well. However, in my opinion he's a better option than Theriot in the 2 hole.

Agreed. We haven't had a great 1-2 since '84. Not that they were great, but they could get there, and they were certainly producing. Fontenot seems to be scuffling a bit farther down, maybe its a situation like Sori, just hits better in a certain slot.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Game Notes.

 

 

 

CAPITOL IMPROVEMENTS: Winners of 10 of their last 11 games to climb a season-high 2 games above .500, the Chicago Cubs today celebrate the Fourth of July in the Nation’s Capitol as the hottest team in all of baseball in the last month since June 3, posting a 20-9 mark (.690) in 29 games in that span.

 

 

The Cubs are two games above .500 for the first time since the club was 14-12 on May 3, 2006…the Cubs have not been 3 games above .500 since owning a 14-11 mark on May 2, 2006.

 

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 29-game run to achieve a new “high-water” mark at 2 games above .500 at 42-40.

 

A HEAVENLY ELEVEN: The Cubs have posted as many as 10 wins in an 11-game stretch for the first time in more than 6 years when the club posted a 12-game winning streak from May 19-June 2, 2001.

 

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.

 

The Cubs have dropped their last two games on July 4 and today aim for their first Independence Day win since a 2-1 victory vs. the White Sox in 2004…the Cubs today look for their first July 4 win on the road in 10 years since a 9-3 win at Philadelphia in 1997.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

More from the game notes...

 

AT THIS POINT LAST YEAR…: With a 42-40 record in 2007, the Cubs have posted a 12-game improvement when compared to their 30-52 record through 82 games in 2006…the Cubs were 30-53 after 83 games last season.

 

SERIES-LY SPEAKING: With a win today or tomorrow, the Cubs would wrap up their fourth series victory in a row…the Cubs have not won 4-straight series since winning 4 in a row from May 23-June 5, 2005 (vs. Houston, vs. Colorado, at Los Angeles, at San Diego).

 

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AISLE: This series in Washington (33-50) 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 (36-47) to head into the All-Star Break…after the festivities in San Francisco, the Cubs return home to Wrigley Field to host Houston (37-47) for 3 games and San Francisco (35-46) for 4 games before Arizona (47-38) snaps that run with 3 games on the North Side of Chicago.

 

AT THE PLATE: The Cubs are second in the National League with a .269 batting average (781-for-2898), 2 points behind the Rockies their .271 team mark.

 

The Cubs have been remarkably consistent at the plate in the last month beginning June 3, batting .276 (278-for-1,006) to maintain a team batting average that has not dipped below .267 or risen above .271 in the last 29 games.

[98navigator]

I'm hoping the Cubs can jump on Chico early; he pitched 6 shutout innings in his last start but got a ND. Hopefully, Rich bounces back from his rough outing for this game and the future.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

And a final game note installment...

 

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 this week have picked up their first wins in Washington D.C. since 2005, as Chicago was swept in a 3-game set here last year.

2007 Overall: ............................................5-0

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

At RFK Stadium: .....................................2-0

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

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

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

All-Time Since 1969 (Mon/Wash): ...256-280

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

At RFK Stadium (since 2005): ..................3-5

 

About Hill

Rich, 27, is in his first full season with the Cubs after he made his major league debut in 2005, appearing in 10 games (four starts) for Chicago … has gone 8-6 with a 3.02 ERA (47 ER/140.0 IP) in his last 22 starts dating to September 1, 2006.

 

Hill established himself as a reliable starter during the second half of last season … went 6-3 with a 2.93 ERA (26 ER/80.0 IP) in 13 games after the All-Star break.

 

Picked up various minor league honors in 2006 … named to the Pacific Coast League All-Star Team and was the starting pitcher in the contest.

 

Also was named the left-handed pitcher on the Topps/Minor League Baseball Triple-A All-Star squad.

 

In 100 minor league games (78 starts), Hill has struck out 626 and walked just 210 in 451.2 innings of work.

 

Was selected by the Cubs in the fourth round of the 2002 draft (scout: Scott May).

 

Graduated from Milton High School in Milton, Massachusetts in 1999 … attended the University of Michigan.

 

Last Time Out

 

Did not receive a decision in the Cubs’ 6-5 victory over the Brewers June 29 … gave up 5 first-inning runs on 5 hits (1 home run) and 2 walks while striking out 5 in 3.0 innings of work.

 

Second time this season he pitched just 3.0 innings, with the last time coming on June 17 against San Diego.

 

2007 Season

Rich has limited the opponent to a .215 batting average (77-for-358), tied for fourth-lowest in the N.L. and tied for seventh in the majors … has tossed at least 6.0 innings in 12 of his 16 starts while producing 9 quality outings on the season.

 

Has gone 0-1 with a 6.87 ERA (14 ER/18.1 IP) over his last 4 starts, lasting just 3.0 innings on 2 occasions.

 

Is 3-3 with a 2.91 ERA (19 ER/58.2 IP) in 9 road starts compared to a 2-2 record with an ERA of 4.35 (19 ER/39.1 IP) in 7 starts at Wrigley.

 

Produced a 1.73 ERA (8 ER/41.2 IP) over his first 6 starts, April 6-May 5, compiling a 4-1 record, but went 0-3 over his next 5 starts, posting a 4.50 ERA (15 ER/30.0 IP), May 11-June 2.

 

Was 3-1 with a 1.77 ERA (7 ER/35.2 IP) in 5 April outings … went 1-3 with a 4.66 ERA (15 ER/29.0 IP) in 5 May starts … was 1-1 with a 4.32 ERA (16 ER/33.1 IP) in 6 June starts.

 

Opponents are batting just .222 (14-for-63) with runners in scoring position.

 

The offense has scored just 19 runs over his last 13 starts while he has been in the game, dating to April 24 (1.5 runs per game).

 

In his 36 Major League starts, Hill:

Issued 2 or fewer walks 24 times … has 2 career outings without issuing a walk.

 

Has pitched at least 6.0 innings 22 times … tossed 7.0 or more innings 13 times … pitched at least 8.0 innings 5 times.

[Sosa21MVP]

Hopefully pitching in RFK can help Rich Hill get back on the positive end of the stick today.

[Bixby]

Glad to see DeRosa in right and Aramis in the lineup today against the lefty. Let's get a W.

[DCNashville]

 

 

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.

 

 

That seems odd...207 games in just over 130 years of baseball? Can that be right? Did we just play double-headers constantly years ago?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Nationals Game Notes.

 

With last night’s 3-1 setback, the Nationals—now winless in 5 games this season against

CHI—have dropped 7 of 8 and 13 of 17 since recording a 3-game sweep at BAL, June 12-14.

 

Since winning 6 of 7 at RFK from May 11-17, the Nationals have dropped 14 of 20 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.

 

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 (9-8) and Expos (22-18) are 31-26 (.544) against the Cubs.

 

24 of Alfonso Soriano’s single-season franchise-record 46 home runs last season were hit at RFK...Soriano’s 24 long balls at RFK are tied for 2nd all-time with Mike Epstein...only the Capital Punisher himself, Frank Howard with 61, hit more within the circular confines of RFK.

 

Washington does not have any player remaining from the July 31, 2004 four-team trade that sent, among others, SS Orlando Cabrera to BOS and SS Nomar Garciaparra to CHI...however, one of the players,

Brendan Harris, was part of the 8-team mega deal that afforded Washington the opportunity to acquire Felipe Lopez, Austin Kearns and Ryan Wagner from CIN on July 13, 2006.

[killthegoat06]

Come on Cubs! This will be the first game in about a week that I will be able to watch live in its entirety. Don't suck!

[killthegoat06]

Let's make it 11 out of 12 and 21 out of 30!

[98navigator]

 

 

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.

 

 

That seems odd...207 games in just over 130 years of baseball? Can that be right? Did we just play double-headers constantly years ago?

 

Yes, MLB once had scheduled double headers (I believe many were on Sundays).

[soccer10k]

Good God I can't believe I'm up at 9 a.m.

[killthegoat06]

Good God I can't believe I'm up at 9 a.m.

 

We'll do anything for the cubs. :D

 

And, we're off!

[TruffleShuffle]

Good God I can't believe I'm up at 9 a.m.

 

I don't think I'd wake up at an ungodly hour to watch the Cubs play the Nationals.

[98navigator]

Let's make it 11 out of 12 and 21 out of 30!

 

21 out of 30 is cool but I like to say 21-9, since June 3, it looks better. :lol:

 

I wasn't going to say this earlier but what the hell? The Cubs current streak is on route to negating the 24-10 streak the Brewers put together earlier in the season (when they jumped out to a huge lead). If by some stroke of genius/good luck/great play they win the remaining 5 games before the Break, they will have gone 25-9.

[soccer10k]

Oh, I'll be wide awake since I'm running a 5k at 8 am PDT and be home by 9, just think it's kind of sad. You know soccer10k is going to miss the whole game to sleep.

 

Actually, for once, I won't. I have to cover a Davis Little League All-Star game at 11:30. I probably won't get up for the beginning of the Cubs game, (although I might just for the hell of it) but I will be able to watch some of it before heading to the Little League game.

 

EDIT: I had to work anyway but my editor gave me the option of covering either the baseball game or a bike race. That wasn't a hard decision.

 

What kind of paper do you work for where anyone in their right mind would possibly care about either one of those events?

 

I have no idea what the bike race even is so I can't tell you about that one. As for what kind of paper - it's a smaller paper (circulation of around 10,000) where we focus on the local athletics for Davis High and UC Davis more than anything. People can get the national stuff online or with the Sac Bee so for us to sell papers, we have to provide something else. We just use AP stories to fill up the extra space after the local stories are put in.

[soccer10k]

Good God I can't believe I'm up at 9 a.m.

 

I don't think I'd wake up at an ungodly hour to watch the Cubs play the Nationals.

 

Did you see my post earlier in the thread? I would have had to wake up by 10 a.m. anyway so I just figured I would wake up an hour early.

[Sosa21MVP]

Nice AB by Soriano so far.

[killthegoat06]

Soriano making him work.

[98navigator]

Sori out 5-3

 

nice battle

[killthegoat06]

Soriano grounds out to 3rd.

[OleMissCub]

Man, it's too early. This reminds me of those baseball tournaments I used to play in where there were games at 9:00 and 10:00.