7/16 CUBS (Hill) vs. Giants (Lincecum), 6:05 PM CT WCIU/ESPN

[badger1679666666]

Since Lincecum is pitching, the Cubs won't score for beans.... I predict a 4-1 loss.

 

Fixed your post.

[Derwood]

On the one hand, I'm thrilled with the Cubs recent success and ability to fight their way to 4 over.

 

On the other hand, the fact that this team can play this well makes the poor April/May that much more frustrating. If anything, you can argue the team in April/May was better than the bunch out there right now (at least on paper).

 

Oh well, keep at it boys

[CubsNSkers07]

whats up with us always playing the same teams as the brewers in flip series. We have SF for 4 they have Arizona for 4 than we have Arizona for 3 and they have SF for 3.

[C.C.]

Please come back, Awesome Rich Hill.

 

He should be able to pitch a good game against San Fran. Their offense is terrible.

[JWCUB]

Wind blowing in or out today?

[ctcf]

Please be good again Rich Hill.

 

PLEASE!

[Guest]

Wind blowing in or out today?

 

Blowing out at about 5-10 mph to LF. Also there's a 40% chance of thunder storms.

[Mizzou]

Argh, Marquis is pitching when I go to the Cubs/Cards game next week.

 

That would be Thurs, yes? We are going Tues and Weds, which I guess would be Z and Lilly.

 

At least you'll be there to see a possible sweep. 8-)

I'll be at the Marquis game too. I didn't realize til just now that he would be pitching that day. Thanks for ruining my day, TT!

 

I may need to get tickets to one of the other games as well.

[RammyFanny]

Argh, Marquis is pitching when I go to the Cubs/DBacks game Friday.

 

Fixed for myself.

[synergy]

Even though I hate Bonds, I think he's just going to annihilate Rich Hill today. he has one of the best pitch recognition in baseball, so he will know what pitches to swing at against one-pitch rich.

[Dr. Cub]

Bonds is going to break the record tonight against Hill. 2 in the 1st, 2 in the 2nd, and then break it in the 3rd. Cubs lose 48-1.

[BleacherBadger]

Bonds is going to break the record tonight against Hill. 2 in the 1st, 2 in the 2nd, and then break it in the 3rd. Cubs lose 48-1.

 

I'd personally be surprised to see Hill still in the game in the 3rd at that point. Then again, we used alot of relievers yesterday, so Lou might leave him in to tough it out. Might hurt the ERA, though.

 

Another point, that might have been brought up or not during yesterday's game: Was anyone listening to the Pat and Ron and hear Ron's 5 minute rant about losing a cookie, accusing some high school players of stealing it, and then finding it under his chair with a hair, the presumed to be blonde although it might have been brown, on the cookie so he had to throw it away and find another cookie?

 

Absolutely hysterical and another reason why I wish Ron never leaves the booth for any reason whatsoever. Pat was dumbfounded and didn't even know what to say to cover up for Ron.

[otis89]

Bonds is going to break the record tonight against Hill. 2 in the 1st, 2 in the 2nd, and then break it in the 3rd. Cubs lose 48-1.

 

No way do the Giants let Bonds break it on the road.

[Carlos Zambrano]

Need a good outing from my boy Rich tonight.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Game Notes.

 

SWEEP HOME CHICAGO: The Cubs improved to a season-high 4-games over .500 yesterday, erasing an early 5-0 deficit to win, 7-6, over the Astros and complete the 3-game sweep … Chicago today looks to improve to 5-games over .500 for the first time since April 28, 2006 when the club was 13-8 last season.

 

The Cubs have gone 15-4 over their last 19 games and their 25-12 (.676) record since June 3 ranks first in the majors … the Tigers rank second in baseball with a 23-12 record (.657) while the Brewers are the closest N.L. team with a 20-15 mark (.571) in that span.

 

Today marks the fourth game of a 10-game homestand against Houston (3-0), San Francisco (4 games) and Arizona (3 games).

 

The Cubs are 3.0 games back of the Dodgers, who lead the N.L. Wildcard race … Chicago is 3.5 games behind the N.L. Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers.

 

THE CUBS AND BARRY: Barry Bonds has homered in each of his last 2 games against the Cubs, September 2-3, 2006 at Wrigley Field, after Chicago pitching had gone 11 straight games without giving up a Bonds long ball dating to April 30, 2003.

 

Bonds owns a .247 career batting average (195-for-788) and a .372 on-base percentage against the Cubs, marking his lowest numbers against any National League team.

 

In addition, Bonds’ .491 slugging percentage vs. the Cubs is his lowest against any National League club.

 

FEAR THE PITCHER WEILDING A BAT: Cubs pitchers have combined on a 3-game hitting streak and have hit safely in 4 of the team’s last 5 games dating to July 7 in Pittsburgh … yesterday, Jason Marquis singled and scored in the second inning a day after Ted Lilly had an RBI single in the sixth inning vs. Houston … Carlos Zambrano started the streak with a fourth-inning, RBI single Friday against the Astros.

 

Cubs pitchers have 29 hits this season, tied with the Mets for the second-most in the N.L. (Phillies lead with 30 hits) … the staff’s 14 RBI rank second behind the Dodgers’ 15 RBI.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

More from the game notes...

 

INHERENTLY GOOD: Chicago’s relievers lead the majors, having stranded 108 of 133 inherited runners this season – an 81.2-percent success rate … yesterday, the Cubs bullpen stranded 5 inherited runners and have now stranded the last 16 runners they have inherited dating to June 26 vs. Colorado.

 

The Cubs bullpen yesterday tossed 5.0 scoreless innings … it marked the fourth time this season that the ‘pen has thrown at least 5.0 shutout innings in a contest and was the first time since throwing 6.0 scoreless innings June 29 vs. Milwaukee.

 

MARMOL-AID: Carlos Marmol owns a 0.88 ERA (3 ER/30.2 IP), the second-best ERA by a reliever in the N.L. and fourth in the majors … San Diego’s Kevin Cameron leads baseball with a 0.31 relief ERA (1 ER/29.1 IP) … Marmol’s 12.62 strikeouts per 9.0 innings ranks third among major league relievers – Philadelphia’s Brett Myers is first (13.94), followed by Boston’s Jonathan Papelbon (12.83).

 

QUITE A TURNAROUND: Through 90 games this season, Chicago is sporting a 47-43 record – a stark contrast to the 35-55 mark the team had through 90 games last season … currently in second and 3.5 games back of Milwaukee in the N.L. Central, the Cubs last year were in fifth place and 16.0 games back of the division leader through 90 games.

 

Chicago has used just 7 different starting pitchers so far this season … in 2006, the Cubs employed 15 starting pitchers.

 

PLAYING AT THE FRIENDLY CONFINES: Chicago is 12-4 (.750) over its last 16 home games beginning June 11 vs. Houston … this follows a 1-5 homestand against Florida (0-3) and Atlanta (1-2), May 28-June 2, which put the Cubs home record at 11-17 up to that point … Chicago, 23-21 at Wrigley Field in 2007, went 36-45 (.444) at Wrigley Field in 2006.

[Alfonso Soriano]

Good News: Because Barry Bonds is in town we may finally get a lead story on BSPN.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

And even more from the game notes...

 

FIRST THING’S FIRST: The Cubs, 5-1-0 over their last 6 series since June 22, have gone 14-16 in series openers, and are 9-2 in that situation over their last 11 series … Chicago has gone 10-2-2 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.

 

ABOUT THE OPPONENT: This series against the Giants (38-51) marks Chicago’s fourth-straight against a club with a losing record … this run began prior to the All-Star break in Washington (3-1) and Pittsburgh (1-2) and continued with the just-completed 3-game sweep of the Astros at Wrigley Field … this streak will end with Arizona coming to town this weekend, currently sporting a 49-43 record.

 

After the Diamondbacks series, the Cubs hit the road for 3-game series against 2 N.L. Central clubs currently below .500 – St. Louis (41-47) and Cincinnati (37-55).

 

The Cubs have had at least 1 double in a season-high 18 straight games since June 23 … in 2006, the team doubled in 24 straight games from June 27-July 25.

 

The Cubs have used 7 rookies this season, including 4 pitchers (Rocky Cherry, Sean Gallagher, Billy Petrick and Clay Rapada) … other rookies include catcher Geovany Soto, infielder Mike Fontenot and outfielder Felix Pie.

 

Cubs starting pitchers Carlos Zambrano (11 wins) and Ted Lilly (9) have combined for 20 victories this season – that’s the most of any pitching duo in the N.L. … Philadelphia’s Cole Hamels (11) and Adam Eaton (8) and the Dodgers Brad Penny (10) and Randy Wolf (9) are second with 19 combined wins for their clubs.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

And a little more....

 

N.L. CENTRAL STANDINGS SINCE JUNE 3

Team Rec. GB

1. CUBS 25-12 ---

2. Milwaukee 20-15 -4.0

3. St. Louis 18-17 -6.0

4. Pittsburgh 16-20 -8.5

5. Houston 16-21 -9.0

Cincinnati 15-20 -9.0

 

The Cubs and Giants play 7 times this season, including this 4-game set at Wrigley Field … the clubs will meet at AT&T Park in San Francisco for a 3-game set, August 21-23 … Chicago last won a season series from the Giants in 2005, going 5-2 against them.

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

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

At AT&T Park: ........................................0-0

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

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

At AT&T Park: ........................................1-2

All-Time Since 1883: ...................1,032-1,105

At Wrigley Field: ..............................399-378

At AT&T Park (since 2000): .................12-13

[RonnieWooWooSanto]

Which Lincecum will show up today?

 

Then again I guess that same question can apply to Rich Hill.

[Twiggy]

Go Cubs Go!

[E.J.]

The SCORE just said Ward would be playing in RF tonight with DeRosa playing 2b. Soriano will be back in the leadoff spot. No word on the lineup though.

[98navigator]

Sori is back to leadoff

DWard is in RF

DeRo at 2B

 

I also thought I heard that Petrick is at the park but I have no idea about the corresponding move.

[JonnyRed]

Breaking News......ESPN just reported that Bonds is out of the lineup for tonight's game.

[E.J.]

Breaking News......ESPN just reported that Bonds is out of the lineup for tonight's game.

 

Yep. He was scratched because of sore knees.