7/13 CUBS (Zambrano) vs. Astros (Jennings), 1:20 PM CT, CSN

[IWU_CUBS_FAN]

i really hope soto has a fontenotesque couple of weeks in his call up, thus leading to an extended shot at catching, cuz if he starts slumpin he will get a few days off which will turn into 14 days off which will turn into a demotion

[A New Era]

When's soto getting here?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

When's soto getting here?

 

According to press reports, he's already in Chicago and participated in workouts today.

[A New Era]

When's soto getting here?

 

According to press reports, he's already in Chicago and participated in workouts today.

 

Thanks Vance. But apparently you don't remember my annoying griffey thing. I just changed it to soto for today. :D

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Brad Lidge was activated today, so he should be available to blow a save during this series.

[otis89]

Brad Lidge was activated today, so he should be available to blow a save during this series.

 

Fun times!

[TysonCBulls423]

I want this lineup

 

Soriano LF

Fontenot 2B

Lee 1B

Ramirez 3B

Floyd RF

DeRosa SS

Jones CF

Soto C

 

My crystal ball is telling me Jones is gonna have a hot streak in route to a trade :D

[Alfonso Soriano]

Zambrano missed practice today and his start tomorrow is up in the air.

[98navigator]

Zambrano missed practice today and his start tomorrow is up in the air.

 

Yeah, on CSN, Hendry said that Lou may decide to flip flop Lilly and Z. Zambrano's plane was late from South FL... We'll see how this goes.

[Fred Hornkohl]

Greetings one and all from beautiful Omaha, NE !!!

 

Worthless stats of the day for Friday.............

 

CUBS are 8-6 on Fridays

CUBS are 1-2 vs. Houston

CUBS are 17-18 vs. the NLC Division

CUBS are 13-10 when they've lost their last 1 game(s) in a row

CUBS are 23-19 when they've lost their previous game

CUBS are 14-16 in games that start a series

CUBS are 4-3 in games that open a home stand

CUBS are 27-23 in day games

CUBS are 20-21 at home

CUBS are 36-29 against right handers

CUBS are 15-16 when CSN broadcasts the game

CUBS are 32-13 when they get a quality start.... 12-30 when they don't

CUBS are 16-23 when the opponent gets a quality start.... 28-20 when they don't

CUBS are 35-18 when they score first in the game.... 9-25 when they don't

CUBS are 22-14 when they score in the first inning.... 22-29 when they don't

CUBS are 38-26 when they don't allow any runs is the first inning.... 6-17 when they do

CUBS are 35-19 when they score at least 4 runs.... 9-24 when they don't

CUBS are 34-6 when they allow fewer than 4 runs.... 10-37 when they don't

CUBS are 40-12 when they outhit the opponents.... 2-20 when they get outhit.... and 2-9 when the hits are even

CUBS are 27-24 when the temperature is 70 degrees or above.... 17-19 when it's less than 70 degrees

CUBS are on a pace to win 82 games this year..... compared to 66 last year and 79 in '05

CUBS are on a pace to score 737 runs this year..... compared to 716 last year and 703 in '05

CUBS are on a pace to hit 138 homeruns this year..... compared to 166 last year and 194 in '05

CUBS are on a pace to draw 484 walks this year..... compared to 395 last year and 419 in '05

CUBS are on a pace to strike out 1046 times this year..... compared to 928 last year and 920 in '05

CUBS are on a pace to steal 93 bases this year..... compared to 121 last year and 64 in '05

CUBS are on a pace to ground into 121 double plays this year..... compared to 135 last year and 129 in '05

CUBS are on a pace to commit 95 errors this year..... compared to 104 last year and 100 in '05

CUBS are scoring 4.55 runs per game...... compared to 4.42 last year and 4.34 in '05

CUBS are seeing 3.72 pitches per plate appearance...... compared to 3.68 last year and 3.61 in '05

CUBS are drving in 18.7% of their runners on base...... compared to 20.0% last year and 18.4% in '05

CUBS are scoring 0.360 runs per baserunner...... compared to 0.370 last year and 0.365 in '05

CUBS are getting extra base hits at a 33.3% rate...... compared to 32.3% last year and 35.8 in '05

CUBS are 38-27 when they get at least 8 hits..... 6-16 when they don't

CUBS are 38-33 when they draw at least 2 walks.... 6-10 when they don't

CUBS are 18-18 when they steal a base.... 26-25 when they don't

CUBS are 17-7 when they execute a sac bunt.... 27-36 when they don't

CUBS are 15-21 when they commit 1 or more errors.... 29-22 when they don't

CUBS are 40-34 when they hit at least 1 double.... 4-9 when they don't

CUBS are 13-8 when they hit at least 2 home runs.... 31-35 when they don't

CUBS are 15-7 when they hit a sacrifice fly.... 29-36 when they don't

CUBS are 22-11 when they allow fewer than 3 walks.... 22-32 when they don't

CUBS are 14-20 when the opponent steals a base.... 30-23 when they don't

CUBS are 9-16 when the opponent executes a sac bunt.... 35-27 when they don't

CUBS are 3-19 when the opponent hits at least 2 HRs.... 41-24 when they don't

CUBS are 5-12 when the opponent hits a sacrifice fly.... 39-31 when they don't

CUBS are 11-14 when they hit an opposing batter.... 33-29 when they don't

CUBS have not hit a HR in their last 9 games

CUBS have 10 SFs in their last 11 games

CUBS have been HBP once in their last 15 games

CUBS have issued more than 3 BBs in 9 of their last 13 games

CUBS have caught 1 base runner stealing in their last 17 games

CUBS opponents have GIDP'd at least 1 time in 11 of their last 14 games

CUBS opponents have committed at least 1 error in 6 of their last 8 games

 

CUBS are 10-9 when Zambrano starts

Zambrano is 11 of 19 in quality starts

Zambrano has 7 consecutive quality starts

Zambrano's ERA pitching to Barrett is 7.53.... to Blanco it's 3.27.... to K. Hill it's 1.87.... to Bowen it's 1.13

CUBS score 4.55 R/G overall.... 4.68 R/G when Zambrano pitches

CUBS hit 0.85 HR/G overall.... 1.10 HR/G when Zambrano pitches

 

CUBS' offensive support of Zambrano.....

 

04/02 - 07/08      AB    R    H   2b   3b   HR   TB  RBI   BB   SO     BA    OBP    SLG    OPS
CUBS w/Zambrano   644   89  166   41    4   21  278   83   57  110  0.258  0.317  0.432  0.749
CUBS overall     3066  396  824  181   19   74 1265  377  260  562  0.269  0.327  0.413  0.740

 

Composite scoring in games started by Zambrano.........

 

                  1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16    Total

CUBS             12  13  13   8   8  14   5  11   5   0   0   0   0   0   0   0      89
Opponents        14   2   7   3  18   6  14   9   1   0   0   1   0   0   0   0      75

 

Zambrano's starts this year (10-7)

 

Zambrano                IP    H    R   ER   BB    K   HR    PC  BB/9   K/9  HR/9  WHIP   ERA
04/02  vs. Cincy       5.0    6    5    5    5    2    2    92  9.00  3.60  3.60  2.20  9.00
04/07  vs. Milw        7.0    5    3    3    2    6    2   109  2.57  7.71  2.57  1.00  3.86
04/13  vs. Cincy       4.0    6    6    6    4    2    0    87  9.00  4.50  0.00  2.50 13.50
04/18  vs. Atla        6.0    8    5    5    5    6    2   113  7.50  9.00  3.00  2.17  7.50
04/23  vs. Milw        5.3    5    2    2    3    7    1   103  5.06 11.81  1.69  1.50  3.38
04/28  vs. St. L       7.0    7    1    1    0    2    1   113  0.00  2.57  1.29  1.00  1.29
05/04  vs. Wash        6.0    6    4    4    3    4    1   104  4.50  6.00  1.50  1.50  6.00
05/10  vs. Pitts       6.0    7    6    4    2    6    1   117  3.00  9.00  1.50  1.50  6.00
05/15  vs. Mets        8.0    6    1    1    3    3    1   116  3.38  3.38  1.13  1.13  1.13
05/20  vs. CWS         6.7    6    7    7    4    5    1   117  5.40  6.75  1.35  1.50  9.45
05/26  vs. L.A.        7.7    8    2    2    1    8    1   125  1.17  9.39  1.17  1.17  2.35
06/01  vs. Atla        5.0   13    7    6    2    0    0    97  3.60  0.00  0.00  3.00 10.80
06/06  vs. Milw        6.7    5    2    2    3    9    1   117  4.05 12.15  1.35  1.20  2.70
06/11  vs. Houst       8.0    3    1    0    1    8    0   128  1.13  9.00  0.00  0.50  0.00
06/16  vs. S.D.        9.0    2    1    1    5    6    1   123  5.00  6.00  1.00  0.78  1.00
06/22  vs. CWS         8.0    3    1    1    1   12    1   113  1.13 13.50  1.13  0.50  1.13
06/27  vs. Colo        6.0    5    2    2    3    8    0   107  4.50 12.00  0.00  1.33  3.00
07/03  vs. Wash        6.7    3    1    1    4    8    0   121  5.40 10.80  0.00  1.05  1.35
07/08  vs. Pitts       7.0    4    3    3    3    5    1   122  3.86  6.43  1.29  1.00  3.86

Home                  56.0   53   36   32   27   46    5   983  4.34  7.39  0.80  1.43  5.14
Road                  69.0   55   24   24   27   61   12  1141  3.52  7.96  1.57  1.19  3.13

Day                   91.0   83   50   47   38   75   13  1543  3.76  7.42  1.29  1.33  4.65
Nite                  34.0   25   10    9   16   32    4   581  4.24  8.47  1.06  1.21  2.38

April totals          34.3   37   22   22   19   25    8   617  4.98  6.55  2.10  1.63  5.77
May totals            34.3   33   20   18   13   26    5   579  3.41  6.82  1.31  1.34  4.72
June totals           42.7   31   14   12   15   43    3   685  3.16  9.07  0.63  1.08  2.53
July totals           13.7    7    4    4    7   13    1   243  4.61  8.56  0.66  1.02  2.63

totals vs. Houst       8.0    3    1    0    1    8    0   128  1.13  9.00  0.00  0.50  0.00
last 5 starts         36.7   17    8    8   16   39    3   586  3.93  9.57  0.74  0.90  1.96
season totals        125.0  108   60   56   54  107   17  2124  3.89  7.70  1.22  1.30  4.03

 

Zambrano's starts vs. Houston last year (3-0).......

 

Zambrano                IP    H    R   ER   BB    K   HR    PC  BB/9   K/9  HR/9  WHIP   ERA
06/05  vs. Houst       8.0    1    0    0    2    8    0   126  2.25  9.00  0.00  0.38  0.00
06/15  vs. Houst       7.0    5    1    1    2    5    0   107  2.57  6.43  0.00  1.00  1.29
07/20  vs. Houst       8.0    2    1    1    4   10    0   123  4.50 11.25  0.00  0.75  1.13
08/14  vs. Houst       8.0    4    0    0    7    5    0   121  7.88  5.63  0.00  1.38  0.00

totals  vs. Houst     31.0   12    2    2   15   28    0   477  4.35  8.13  0.00  0.87  0.58
season totals        214.0  162   91   81  115  210   20  3624  4.84  8.83  0.84  1.29  3.41

 

CUBS' bullpen load during the last week.....

 

              Thur       Wed        Tues       Mon        Sun        Sat        Fri           Totals
             12 Jul     11 Jul     10 Jul     09 Jul     08 Jul     07 Jul     06 Jul
             no game    no game    no game    no game    @ Pitts   @ Pitts   @ Pitts
pitcher        IP Pit     IP Pit     IP Pit     IP Pit     IP Pit     IP Pit     IP Pit        IP Pit

Dempster                                                                                             
Eyre                                                                            1.0   9       1.0   9
Howry                                                     1.0  20                             1.0  20
Ohman                                                                                                
Wuertz                                                                          1.0  18       1.0  18
Marmol                                                               1.7  28                  1.7  28
Petrick                                                                                              
Cherry                                                                                               
Gallagher                                                                       1.3  30       1.3  30

Totals                                                    1.0  20    1.7  28    3.3  57       6.0 105

 

CUBS' season series vs. Houston this year (1-2).....

 

Gm#    Date       Opponent         Score  Starter         Opp Starter
 7  Mon 04/09    Houston           3- 5  Lilly           Williams      
 8  Tue 04/10    Houston           2- 4  Marquis         Sampson       
62  Mon 06/11    Houston       N   2- 1  Zambrano        Williams      
88  Fri 07/13    Houston            -    Zambrano        Jennings      
89  Sat 07/14    Houston            -    Lilly           Oswalt        
90  Sun 07/15    Houston            -    Marquis         Rodriguez     
111  Mon 08/06  @ Houston       N    -    Hill            Williams      
112  Tue 08/07  @ Houston       N    -    Marshall        Sampson       
113  Wed 08/08  @ Houston       N    -    Zambrano        Rodriguez     
134  Fri 08/31    Houston            -    Lilly           Oswalt        
135  Sat 09/01    Houston            -    Marquis         Jennings      
136  Sun 09/02    Houston            -    Hill            Williams      
144  Tue 09/11  @ Houston       N    -    Lilly           Oswalt        
145  Wed 09/12  @ Houston       N    -    Marquis         Jennings      
146  Thu 09/13  @ Houston       N    -    Hill            Williams      

 

CUBS' season series vs. Houston last year (7-8) .......

 

Gm#    Date       Opponent         Score  Starter
56  Mon 06/05  @ Houston       N   8- 0  Zambrano      
57  Tue 06/06  @ Houston       N   1- 4  Wood        
58  Wed 06/07  @ Houston           0- 1  Marshall      
63  Tue 06/13    Houston       N   2- 9  Marshall      
64  Wed 06/14    Houston       N   4- 5  Maddux        
65  Thu 06/15    Houston           2- 3  Zambrano      
82  Mon 07/03  @ Houston       N   2- 7  Marmol        
83  Tue 07/04  @ Houston           2- 7  Prior        
84  Wed 07/05  @ Houston       N   1- 0  Marshall      
92  Tue 07/18    Houston       N   4- 2  Marmol        
93  Wed 07/19    Houston       N   2- 4  Maddux        
94  Thu 07/20    Houston           4- 1  Zambrano      
118  Mon 08/14  @ Houston       N   3- 0  Zambrano      
119  Tue 08/15  @ Houston       N   8- 6  Mateo        
120  Wed 08/16  @ Houston           1- 0  O'Malley      

 

CUBS hitters vs. Houston this year.....

 

vs. Houst          AB    R    H   2B   3B   HR   TB  RBI   BB   SO     BA    OBP    SLG    OPS  BABIP
Fontenot            3    1    2    1    0    0    3    0    0    1  0.667  0.667  1.000  1.667  1.000
Barrett             7    0    2    1    0    0    3    1    1    1  0.286  0.375  0.429  0.804  0.333
Lee                10    1    3    0    0    0    3    1    1    3  0.300  0.364  0.300  0.664  0.429
Ramirez             7    1    2    0    0    0    2    1    1    2  0.286  0.375  0.286  0.661  0.400
Jones              11    2    3    1    0    0    4    0    0    1  0.273  0.273  0.364  0.636  0.300
Floyd               8    0    2    0    0    0    2    0    0    0  0.250  0.250  0.250  0.500  0.250
Theriot             5    0    1    0    0    0    1    1    0    1  0.200  0.200  0.200  0.400  0.250
Pie                 2    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    1    0  0.000  0.333  0.000  0.333  0.000
Izturis             5    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    2    0  0.000  0.286  0.000  0.286  0.000
Soriano            11    1    1    0    0    0    1    0    0    2  0.091  0.167  0.091  0.258  0.111
DeRosa             10    0    1    0    0    0    1    1    0    1  0.100  0.100  0.100  0.200  0.111
Ward                2    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0  0.000  0.000  0.000  0.000  0.000
Pagan               1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0  0.000  0.000  0.000  0.000  0.000
Murton              2    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0  0.000  0.000  0.000  0.000  0.000
K Hill              3    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0  0.000  0.000  0.000  0.000  0.000

totals va. Houst   92    7   18    3    0    1   24    6    6   14  0.196  0.253  0.261  0.513  0.221

season totals    3066  394  824  179   19   74 1263  377  259  561  0.269  0.327  0.412  0.739  0.309

 

CUBS pitchers vs. Houston this year......

 

vs. Houst            IP    H    R   ER   BB    K   HR    PC  BB/9   K/9  HR/9  WHIP   ERA
Zambrano            8.0    3    1    0    1    8    0   128  1.13  9.00  0.00  0.50  0.00
Guzman              3.0    3    0    0    1    2    0    40  3.00  6.00  0.00  1.33  0.00
Dempster            2.0    0    0    0    1    2    0    17  4.50  9.00  0.00  0.50  0.00
Eyre                1.0    0    0    0    0    1    0    10  0.00  9.00  0.00  0.00  0.00
Wuertz              1.0    0    0    0    1    1    0    14  9.00  9.00  0.00  1.00  0.00
Lilly               6.0    6    3    3    1    5    0    90  1.50  7.50  0.00  1.17  4.50
Marquis             5.0    4    4    3    4    3    0    91  7.20  5.40  0.00  1.60  5.40
Howry               1.0    3    2    2    0    1    1    25  0.00  9.00  9.00  3.00 18.00

totals va. Houst   27.0   19   10    8    9   23    1   415  3.00  7.67  0.33  1.04  2.67

season totals     784.3  709  369  344  289  662   94 12562  3.32  7.60  1.08  1.27  3.95

 

CUBS' last 14 games (10-4)..............

 

Gm#    Date       Opponent         Score  Starter         Opp Starter
74  Sun 06/24  @ Chicago (AL)      3- 0  Marshall        Contreras     
75  Mon 06/25    Colorado      N  10- 9  Marquis         Francis       
76  Tue 06/26    Colorado      N   8- 5  Lilly           Lopez         
77  Wed 06/27    Colorado          6- 4  Zambrano        Hirsch        
78  Fri 06/29    Milwaukee         6- 5  Hill            Gallardo      
79  Sat 06/30    Milwaukee         4-13  Marshall        Sheets        
80  Sun 07/01    Milwaukee         5- 1  Marquis         Bush          
81  Mon 07/02  @ Washington        7- 2  Lilly           Simontacchi   
82  Tue 07/03  @ Washington        3- 1  Zambrano        Redding       
83  Wed 07/04  @ Washington        0- 6  Hill            Chico         
84  Thu 07/05  @ Washington        4- 2  Marshall        Bergmann      
85  Fri 07/06  @ Pittsburgh    N   4- 8  Marquis         Maholm        
86  Sat 07/07  @ Pittsburgh    N   7- 1  Lilly           Van Benschoten
87  Sun 07/08  @ Pittsburgh        2- 6  Zambrano        Youman     

 

Composite scoring during the last 14 games.........

 

                  1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16    Total

CUBS             16   3  16   6   7   6   6   4   5   0   0   0   0   0   0   0      69
Opponents        11   6   7   2  10   9   2   6  10   0   0   0   0   0   0   0      63

 

CUBS' hitters during the last 14 games......

 

06/24 - 07/08      AB    R    H   2B   3B   HR   TB  RBI   BB   SO     BA    OBP    SLG    OPS  BABIP
Theriot            34    8   15    5    0    0   20    3    4    2  0.441  0.500  0.588  1.088  0.469
Ramirez            48    7   18    6    1    1   29   10    1    1  0.375  0.373  0.604  0.977  0.370
DeRosa             51    5   20    4    0    1   27   16    5    8  0.392  0.439  0.529  0.968  0.452
Fontenot           50    9   19    4    1    1   28    7    2    5  0.380  0.404  0.560  0.964  0.409
Ward               13    3    5    1    0    0    6    3    1    3  0.385  0.400  0.462  0.862  0.500
Floyd              23    4    6    0    0    1    9    5    5    4  0.261  0.393  0.391  0.784  0.278
Soriano            61   12   20    3    0    1   26    6    1   11  0.328  0.333  0.426  0.760  0.388
Jones              14    2    3    3    0    0    6    0    1    2  0.214  0.267  0.429  0.695  0.250
Pagan              37    2    8    1    0    1   12    6    2    9  0.216  0.244  0.324  0.568  0.259
Lee                45    9    9    0    0    0    9    3    8    4  0.200  0.327  0.200  0.527  0.220
K Hill             33    2    4    1    0    0    5    4    3    5  0.121  0.184  0.152  0.336  0.143
Pie                11    2    1    0    0    0    1    1    2    4  0.091  0.231  0.091  0.322  0.143
Bowen              18    2    1    1    0    0    2    1    1    7  0.056  0.100  0.111  0.211  0.091
Izturis            15    0    1    0    0    0    1    0    0    3  0.067  0.067  0.067  0.133  0.083

last 14 games     482   69  134   29    2    6  185   66   36   80  0.278  0.323  0.384  0.706  0.323

season totals    3066  394  824  179   19   74 1263  377  259  561  0.269  0.327  0.412  0.739  0.309

 

CUBS' pitchers during the last 14 games......

 

06/24 - 07/08        IP    H    R   ER   BB    K   HR    PC  BB/9   K/9  HR/9  WHIP   ERA
Cherry              2.0    1    1    0    1    2    0    33  4.50  9.00  0.00  1.00  0.00
Gallagher           1.3    1    2    0    1    1    0    30  6.75  6.75  0.00  1.50  0.00
Marmol              9.3    8    1    1    3   16    0   155  2.89 15.43  0.00  1.18  0.96
Ohman               4.7    3    1    1    0    2    1    67  0.00  3.86  1.93  0.64  1.93
Lilly              20.3   17    6    6    9   16    1   334  3.98  7.08  0.44  1.28  2.66
Zambrano           19.7   12    6    6   10   21    1   350  4.58  9.61  0.46  1.12  2.75
Petrick             5.7    3    2    2    1    5    1    86  1.59  7.94  1.59  0.71  3.18
Wuertz              8.0    6    3    3    3    8    1   114  3.38  9.00  1.13  1.13  3.38
Marquis            17.3   19   10   10    6   13    3   263  3.12  6.75  1.56  1.44  5.19
Marshall           13.7   17    9    8    7    7    0   214  4.61  4.61  0.00  1.76  5.27
Eyre                5.3    7    5    5    5    4    0   116  8.44  6.75  0.00  2.25  8.44
Howry               6.7   11    7    7    3    7    1   123  4.05  9.45  1.35  2.10  9.45
R Hill              9.0   15   11   11    3   11    3   196  3.00 11.00  3.00  2.00 11.00

last 14 games     123.0  120   64   60   52  113   12  2081  3.80  8.27  0.88  1.40  4.39

season totals     784.3  709  369  344  289  662   94 12562  3.32  7.60  1.08  1.27  3.95

 

Percentage of baserunners driven in........

 

04/02 - 07/08      BDI  LOB   RBI%
Ward                 8   18  0.308
DeRosa              43  115  0.272
Floyd               26   80  0.245
Lee                 36  118  0.234
Ramirez             36  120  0.231
Fontenot            13   49  0.210
Theriot             23   92  0.200
Blanco               3   12  0.200
Soriano             20  101  0.165
Pagan                9   50  0.153
Pagan                9   50  0.153
Jones               18  101  0.151
Barrett             19  113  0.144
Murton               7   48  0.127
K Hill               5   37  0.119
Bowen                2   17  0.105
Izturis              8   78  0.093
Cedeno               2   21  0.087

CUBS               303 1318  0.187

 

Fecal League Standings

 

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Wild Card Race

 

Team             W       L       Pct      GB
Los Angeles     49      40     0.551     ---
Atlanta         47      42     0.528     2.0
Arizona         47      43     0.522     2.5
CUBS            44      43     0.506     4.0
Colorado        44      44     0.500     4.5
Philadelphia    44      44     0.500     4.5
Florida         42      47     0.472     7.0
St. Louis       40      45     0.471     7.0

 

 

Go CUBS !!

[CubColtPacer]

Zambrano missed practice today and his start tomorrow is up in the air.

 

Yeah, on CSN, Hendry said that Lou may decide to flip flop Lilly and Z. Zambrano's plane was late from South FL... We'll see how this goes.

 

No! I like Lilly, but I really want to see Z tomorrow. It's the first time I will have been able to see him live.

 

I'd like to see DeRosa at SS as much as the next guy, but it certainly doesn't look like it's happening. I think the lineup for tomorrow is:

 

Soriano-LF

Theriot-SS

Lee-1B

Ramirez-3B

Floyd-RF

DeRosa-2B

Jones-CF

Soto-C

Pitcher

[A New Era]

Is it true!? Are the Cubs ACTUALLY gonna play baseball tommorow? ::stops twitching::.

[soccer10k]

Zambrano missed practice today and his start tomorrow is up in the air.

 

Yeah, on CSN, Hendry said that Lou may decide to flip flop Lilly and Z. Zambrano's plane was late from South FL... We'll see how this goes.

 

Well that's a relief. An injury problem immediately popped into my head.

[jersey cubs fan]

No gameday talk today? Everybody forget the season is still going on?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Those bitches are just going to lose today; there's nothing to get excited over.

[TheDude]

Three hours to game time. Finally!

 

Today starts Lee's late July 8 HR frenzy.

[A New Era]

Three hours to game time. Finally!

 

Today starts Lee's late July 8 HR frenzy.

 

Don't forget Soriano's 20 steals, and Soto's super hot break out month in the MLB! Oh yeah and Cedeno who takes over at SS and becomes a cheaper Furcal. Damn we're good.

[TysonCBulls423]

are you guys being serious with all the pessimism?

[tinkerstoeverstochance]

How would you guys like to Geo today? just called up gonna be starting behind the dish and oh yeah your gonna be catching one of the games best pitcher in Z

 

WHAT A RUSHHHHHHHH!!!!!! :D

[WindyCity]

Three hours to game time. Finally!

 

Today starts Lee's late July 8 HR frenzy.

 

Carlos?

[E.J.]

So have we found out if Z is pitching today or what?

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Game Notes

 

SECOND HALF STARTS UP: The Cubs today open up the second half of the season with the first game of a 10-game homestand against Houston (3 games), San Francisco (4 games) and Arizona (3 games) … the Cubs, who closed out the first half with a 4-3 trip to Washington (3-1) and Pittsburgh (1-2), have gone 12-4 over their last 16 games and their 22-12 record since June 3 ranks first in the N.L. and third in the majors … Colorado and Milwaukee have the next-best N.L. records in that span, both going 18-14 (.563).

 

 

Chicago’s 44-43 record prior to the break is their first winning mark in the first half since going 47-40 prior to the All-Star break in 2004.

 

The Cubs find themselves 4.0 games back of the N.L. Wild Card-leading Los Angeles Dodgers and 4.5 games behind the N.L. Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers.

 

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 34-game run.

 

THIS IS ON THE RECORD

The Cubs enter the second half with the best record in the N.L. since June 3 with a 22-12 mark (.647) … that ranks third in the majors over that span.

BEST RECORD IN MAJORS, STARTING JUNE 3

Team Rec. Pct.

1. Mariners 23-11 .676

2. Tigers 21-11 .656

3. CUBS 22-12 .647

4. Yankees 20-13 .606

5.Angels18-13.581

 

 

 

FIRST THING’S FIRST: The Cubs, 4-1 over their last 5 series since June 22, have gone 13-16 in series openers this season, but are 8-2 in that situation over their last 10 series…Chicago has gone 9-2-2 in series in which they’ve won the first game of the set – conversely, the Cubs are just 2-13-1 when they drop the first game of a series.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

More from the game notes...

 

COMING UP CLUTCH: Mark DeRosa’s 16 RBI since June 25 is tied for the most in the N.L. in that span with Colorado’s Garrett Atkins and the Phillies Ryan Howard … his .404 batting average (19-for-47) over his last 13 games leads the Senior Circuit by percentage points over Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun, who is also hitting .404 (23-for-57) in that span.

 

DeRosa is hitting .474 (9-for-19) with RISP over his last 11 games.

 

RECEIVING SOME ASSISTANCE: Sunday in Pittsburgh, right fielder Mark DeRosa threw out Nate McLouth, who was attempting to stretch a base hit into a double … it marked the team’s 15th outfield assist of the season and surpassed last season’s total of 14 outfield assists by Cubs outfielders.

 

In addition, Chicago’s outfielders have committed just 5 errors this season and its .992 fielding percentage (598 TC) ranks second in the N.L. (behind Washington’s .993 mark) and fourth in the majors (Cleveland and Minnesota, .992).

 

The Cubs have gone a season-high 9 games without a homer, last connecting for a blast via Aramis Ramirez’ walk-off, 2-run homer June 29 vs. Milwaukee … this is the Cubs’ longest home run drought since a 10-game stretch July 14-21, 1988.

 

Catcher Geovany Soto, recalled today from Triple-A Iowa, is the seventh rookie to see time on the Cubs major league roster this season … the others are pitchers Rocky Cherry, Sean Gallagher, Billy Petrick and Clay Rapada, as well as infielder Mike Fontenot and outfielder Felix Pie.

 

Soto was hitting .341 (77-for-226) with 12 homers and 55 RBI in 69 games with Iowa this season … he was a World Team member in the 2007 XM Satellite Radio Futures Game.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

And even more from the game notes....

 

The Cubs are in the third series of a stretch that sees 6 of 7 sets against clubs currently below .500 … this stretch started in Washington July 2 (3-1) and continued in Pittsburgh last week (1-2) … after this set vs. Houston (39-50), Chicago plays 4 against the Giants (38-48) before Arizona comes to town, currently sporting a 47-43 mark.

 

After the Diamondbacks series, the Cubs hit the road for 3-game series against 2 N.L. Central clubs currently below .500 – St. Louis (40-45) and Cincinnati (36-53).

 

The Cubs have had at least 1 double in a season-high 15 straight games since June 23 … in 2006, the team doubled in 24 straight games from June 27-July 25.

 

Today begins the first of 2 season-high, 10-game homestands for the Cubs … Chicago will have another 10-game set at Wrigley Field against Milwaukee (3 games), Houston (3 games) and the Dodgers(4games)August28-September6

 

UPCOMING SERIES INFORMATION

Date Opp. Time (CT) TV Radio Probable Pitchers

Friday, July 13 HOU 1:20 p.m. CSN WGN-Radio RHP Carlos Zambrano (10-7, 4.03) vs. RHP Jason Jennings (1-4, 4.07)

Saturday, July 14 HOU 2:55 p.m. FOX WGN-Radio LHP Ted Lilly (8-4, 3.67) vs. RHP Roy Oswalt (8-5, 3.53)

Sunday, July 15 HOU 1:20 p.m. WGN WGN-Radio RHP Jason Marquis (6-5, 3.67) vs. LHP Wandy Rodriguez (6-7, 3.87

[cjbucks]

Brad Lidge was activated today, so he should be available to blow a save during this series.

 

Fun times!

 

I heard a story on XM yesterday about how the Astro's players got the pilot of their charter after Lidge gave up the bomb to Pujols to announce in flight that they had to change course because they were encountering a spherical object with red stitching at high altitude.................wow.........