8/3 Mets (Hernandez) @ Cubs (Big Z) 1:20 CT, WGN

[gerby23]

I am torn, I want Z to go 7 or 8 strong, but I also want to see Kerry. Maybe we will have a 4 or 5 run lead and he can do mop up work in the 9th. Go Cubs!

[C.C.]

I am torn, I want Z to go 7 or 8 strong, but I also want to see Kerry. Maybe we will have a 4 or 5 run lead and he can do mop up work in the 9th. Go Cubs!

 

I'd rather see Kerry some other day. We need a strong outting from Z.

 

This is an important series. We have to take 2/3 to show we are for real.

[moorecg]

I want to see 7 strong from Z where he throws 100 pitches...a dominiant inning from Wood and then a quick 1-2-3 from Howry (b/c we're up by 7)

 

:D

[Have a seat, Neifi]

I am torn, I want Z to go 7 or 8 strong, but I also want to see Kerry. Maybe we will have a 4 or 5 run lead and he can do mop up work in the 9th. Go Cubs!

As long as Wood's arm isn't what's being torn, I'm fine with seeing him in anyway possible.

[cubscausestress]

shawn green = cub killer

[Skyballer]

Is Murton supposed to start?

 

*optimism*

[soapy]

Is Murton supposed to start?

 

*optimism*

 

I'm assuming that: RHP = Floyd.

[David]

Is Murton supposed to start?

 

*optimism*

 

Against a righty? Doubt it.

 

Then again, Floyd might've tweaked something in yesterday's game.

 

Of course, if that's the case, it's probably DeRo in RF and Font at 2B.

[badger1679666666]

How the hell does Damian Easley own Woody? Edited August 3, 2007 by badger

[killthegoat06]

Go cubs.

[tfarks]

I'm so friggen hungover off tequila and no sleep...go cubs.

[A New Era]

Please woody come in this game. Please either play murton or trade him. He'd be much better than floyd right now anyway since floyd ain't hittin homers.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Game Notes

 

Following a 4-game set against the Phillies (2-2), the Cubs begin a 3-game series against the N.L. East-leading New York Mets … yesterday, the Cubs fell to the Phillies, 10-6, unable to climb out of an early 7-1 deficit … the clubs combined for 29 hits, including 11 doubles.

 

Chicago is sporting baseball’s top record since June 3 (35-19/.648), while the Yankees are second (35-20/.636) … Colorado is the closest N.L. team with a 29-22 mark (.569) in that span.

 

Chicago is 8-2-1 in its last 11 series dating to June 22-24 at the White Sox … that includes a 4-1-1 home series mark.

 

Prior to this season, the last time Chicago was in first in the N.L. Central division to start August was in 2001 (62-44).

 

RACKING UP THE TWO-BAGGERS: The Cubs have collected 11 doubles over their last 2 games including a season-high 6 doubles Wednesday night vs. Philadelphia … Derrek Lee has doubled twice in each of his last 2 games and has 7 contests this season with at least 2 doubles … his 32 doubles rank tied for sixth in the N.L. on the season.

 

Chicago has 224 doubles (third in the N.L.) and is on pace to hit 339 doubles this season – the 1931 Cubs hold the franchise’s single-season record with 340 doubles in 156 games.

 

CUBS VS. METS: Chicago is currently tied for first in the N.L. Central while the Mets lead the N.L. East … this marks the first time the clubs have met while leading their respective divisions since April 14, 1998 … the Cubs and Mets have never faced each other in August or later when both teams were in first place.

 

The farthest into the season the teams have played each other when they were both in first place was in 1984 … the clubs played each other May 1 when they led their divisions … thanks to Stats Inc

 

HIT MACHINES: After they were 3-hit by the Phillies Monday, the Cubs have recorded 10 or more hits in each of their last 3 games, batting .327 (34-for-104) in that span … Chicago has scored 18 runs in their last 3 contests and have walked 19 times compared to 19 strikeouts.

 

Chicago has recorded 10 or more hits in 49 games this season and has gone 37-12 (.755) in those contests.

[David]

Cubs lineup

 

Soriano

Theriot

Lee

Ramirez

Floyd

DeRosa

Jones

Kendall

Z

Edited August 3, 2007 by David

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

More from the game notes...

 

LOOKING TO STRETCH OUT THE STARTS: Chicago’s starting pitchers have reached the seventh inning just once in the club’s last 8 games, and that was when today’s starter, Carlos Zambrano, tossed 7.1 shutout innings July 29 in Cincinnati … on the current homestand, Cubs starters have lasted 5.0 or fewer innings in 3 of 4 games.

On the season, Cubs starting pitchers have tossed 645.0 innings, seventh-most in the N.L. ©

 

The Cubs bullpen has tossed 10.2 innings over the team’s last 2 games … earlier this season, the ‘pen threw 13.2 innings over a 2-game stretch, June 9-10 in Atlanta.

 

NO STRANGER TO THE BASEPATHS: Ryan Theriot enters today’s game having reached base safely in his last 27 games dating to June 30 vs. Milwaukee … his streak is the third-highest by a Cub this season – Derrek Lee started the season having reached safely in his first 32 games while Alfonso Soriano reached safely in his first 31 contests as a Cub.

 

Theriot has reached in his last 28 games while at shortstop dating to June 25 … that’s the longest stretch by any shortstop this season – the Yankees Derek Jeter is second, having reached in 25 consecutive games from April 2-May 3.

 

RECENTLY AGAINST RIGHTHANDERS: Entering today’s game, the Cubs have faced right-handed starters in 13 of their last 15 contests … opposing right-handed starters are 2-8 with a 4.80 ERA (35 ER/65.2 IP) in their last 13 games against Chicago dating to July 18.

 

Chicago is 20-6 (.769) in its last 26 games against right-handed starters dating to June 23.

 

ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END: Chicago’s bullpen had tossed 21.2 consecutive scoreless innings before Will Ohman allowed 3 ninth-inning runs yesterday … prior to that, Cubs relievers combined to produce scoreless outings in 5 straight games for the first time since May 21-25, 2003 (11.2 IP).

 

The Cubs’ bullpen ranks ninth in the N.L. with a 3.85 ERA (136 ER/317.2 IP) … last season, Chicago’s bullpen had a 4.20 ERA (159 ER/341.0 IP) entering August.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Cubs lineup

 

Soriano

Theriot

Lee

Ramirez

Floyd

Fontenot

Jones

Kendall

Z

 

Zambrano should be hitting seventh in that line-up.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Even more from the game notes...

 

ACCURACY IS TO BE COMMENDED: Bob Howry has tossed scoreless innings in each of his last 2 games and has now faced 53 consecutive batters without allowing a walk … it’s the second-longest stretch by a Cub this season, topped only by Jason Marquis who went 67 consecutive batters without issuing a walk from April 27-May 14 … thanks to Stats Inc.’s Allan Spear for his assistance.

 

REMARKABLE ROTATION: Chicago’s starting pitchers have a .595 winning percentage this season (44-30), tops in the N.L. and third in the majors behind Detroit (47-28/.627) and Boston (54-35/.607) … Cubs starters have not lost consecutive games since June 16-17 vs. San Diego when Carlos Zambrano and Rich Hill were the Cubs’ pitchers of record.

 

BUSY FEW WEEKS: Chicago is in its 11th game (6-4) of a stretch that sees the club play 20 straight days … the stretch started July 24 in St. Louis and runs through August 12 in Colorado … this 20-game run has the Cubs on the road for 13 contests – prior to this 7-game homestand against the Phillies (2-2) and Mets (3 games), the Cubs went 4-2 in St. Louis and Cincinnati … the Cubs will play 3 games in Houston and 4 in Colorado after this homestand.

 

Through 107 games this season, Chicago is sporting a 57-50 record – a stark contrast to the 44-63 record the club had through 106 games last season … currently tied for first in the N.L. Central, Chicago found itself in fifth place and 14.5-games back of the division leader this time last year.

[David]

I corrected the lineup, Silvy and Waddle mistakenly reported Font in at 2B instead of DeRo.

[gflore34]

CUBS VS. METS: Chicago is currently tied for first in the N.L. Central while the Mets lead the N.L. East … this marks the first time the clubs have met while leading their respective divisions since April 14, 1998 … the Cubs and Mets have never faced each other in August or later when both teams were in first place.

 

The farthest into the season the teams have played each other when they were both in first place was in 1984 … the clubs played each other May 1 when they led their divisions … thanks to Stats Inc

 

In '84 they where both in the NL East...

[BleacherBadger]

Win. winwinwinwinwin. "I believe this year I will win the Cy Young and I will enjoy that" - Z

[David]

CUBS VS. METS: Chicago is currently tied for first in the N.L. Central while the Mets lead the N.L. East … this marks the first time the clubs have met while leading their respective divisions since April 14, 1998 … the Cubs and Mets have never faced each other in August or later when both teams were in first place.

 

The farthest into the season the teams have played each other when they were both in first place was in 1984 … the clubs played each other May 1 when they led their divisions … thanks to Stats Inc

 

In '84 they where both in the NL East...

 

Maybe they were tied? If that were the case, it should say "division," not "divisions."

 

That, or maybe they screwed up and meant 1994. Did the realignment happen in 94 or 95? I recall 95 being the first playoffs with the new alignment, but I think 94 already had the new divisions/wild card.

[gflore34]

ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END: Chicago’s bullpen had tossed 21.2 consecutive scoreless innings before Will Ohman allowed 3 ninth-inning runs yesterday … prior to that, Cubs relievers combined to produce scoreless outings in 5 straight games for the first time since May 21-25, 2003 (11.2 IP).

 

The Cubs’ bullpen ranks ninth in the N.L. with a 3.85 ERA (136 ER/317.2 IP) … last season, Chicago’s bullpen had a 4.20 ERA (159 ER/341.0 IP) entering August.

 

I'm thinking it about time Ohman got sent to Iowa and Pignatiello was given a shot.

[badger1679666666]

I thought floyd was gimpy and we'd get Murt?

 

:?

 

AND, if Koyie doesn't have to catch Z, can't we get the [expletive] hell rid of him for Christ's sake?

[C.C.]

CUBS VS. METS: Chicago is currently tied for first in the N.L. Central while the Mets lead the N.L. East … this marks the first time the clubs have met while leading their respective divisions since April 14, 1998 … the Cubs and Mets have never faced each other in August or later when both teams were in first place.

 

The farthest into the season the teams have played each other when they were both in first place was in 1984 … the clubs played each other May 1 when they led their divisions … thanks to Stats Inc

 

In '84 they where both in the NL East...

 

Yes. I was at that game four against the Mets when we swept them. I'll never forget the atmosphere of that game.

[E.J.]

Boo...

 

I wanted to see Murton play today.