8/17 Cardinals (Looper) @ Cubs (Hill) 1:20 WGN

[Flames24Rulz]

Pitching matchup:

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/images/gameday/mugshots/mlb/131702.jpg

 

Braden Looper: 10-9, 5.08 ERA, 127.2 IP, 138 hits, 62 K's/38 BB's

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/images/gameday/mugshots/mlb/448179.jpg

 

Rich Hill: 6-7, 3.85 ERA, 140.1 IP, 123 hits, 128 K's/48 BB's

 

After the blowout win of the Reds today, the Cubs welcome in the hated Cardinals to town for the first of a four game set at Wrigley Field. Everyone knows how far the Cardinals have come back in just the last two weeks or so, but the Cubs can push the Cardinals right back where they were before this week started if we can take at least 3 of 4 from them. The Cubs avoid Wainwright in this series and Marquis will not be in this series as well. That alone is a pretty big advantage. Hopefully we can expose that the Cardinals are really a very crappy team, meaning worse than us.

 

Just don't lose, you stupid idiots.

[Butterscup1679666578]

Sweep the Cards, end their season, take over first. Thanks.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

We need another win.

[otis89]

Go ahead. Lose. See if I care.

[ctcf]

Get into first place you nimwits.

[anabiono]

Sweep the Cards, end their season, take over first. Thanks.

 

 

yep, that sounds about right!

[Alfonso Soriano]

Just Win, http://www.caninecompanions.org/national/images/breedingPupsSleeping.jpg

[reggiemiller rules]

I know that the Cards are playing well right now, and that the cubs have been losing lately. But you guys have had our numbers the last couple of years so I would be happy with a 2-2 split out of this series.

[bc2k]

I'm both nervous and excited for this game. I'm glad day baseball is back.

 

Go HILLY!

[reggiemiller rules]

Oh I also forgot to say that it is awesome to see some meaningful games for both teams this late in the season. It should really add to the atmosphere of the games.

[Andy]

How the hell are we still a half-game out of first?

[XZero771679666304]

I know that the Cards are playing well right now, and that the cubs have been losing lately. But you guys have had our numbers the last couple of years so I would be happy with a 2-2 split out of this series.

 

The Cards are playing well relative to the Cubs and Brewers, but not really well overall. This series could be an ugly battle of attrition before it's over.

[tfarks]

http://fmnetwork.free.fr/mooky/nimp/caturday.jpg

[XZero771679666304]

How the hell are we still a half-game out of first?

 

The Brewers are in free fall.

[swordsman]

hmmmmmmm...civil discourse in a game thread...savor it folks, it ain't gonna last.

[Cynosure]

So what Rich Hill do we get tonight?

[reggiemiller rules]

I know that the Cards are playing well right now, and that the cubs have been losing lately. But you guys have had our numbers the last couple of years so I would be happy with a 2-2 split out of this series.

 

The Cards are playing well relative to the Cubs and Brewers, but not really well overall. This series could be an ugly battle of attrition before it's over.

 

They have won 8 out of 10 all against teams above .500. Now the brewers and the dodgers are both struggling, but you have to give the Cards credit for going out there and contributing to those struggles.

[XZero771679666304]

I know that the Cards are playing well right now, and that the cubs have been losing lately. But you guys have had our numbers the last couple of years so I would be happy with a 2-2 split out of this series.

 

The Cards are playing well relative to the Cubs and Brewers, but not really well overall. This series could be an ugly battle of attrition before it's over.

 

They have won 8 out of 10 all against teams above .500. Now the brewers and the dodgers are both struggling, but you have to give the Cards credit for going out there and contributing to those struggles.

 

I give the Cards credit, but the Dodgers and Brewers were both teams headed south in a real hurry before the Cards got to them. Heck, the Dodgers barely managed to score in Cincinnati and had lost 6 of 7 going into the STL series. The Brewers had lost 5 of 7 going into the last series.

[Omar]

St. Louis Cardinals Vs. Rich Hill

                    **PA**  AB  H  2B 3B HR RBI  BB  SO   BA   OBP   SLG   OPS  
+-----------------+-------+---+---+--+--+--+---+---+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+
Chris Duncan          6     6   2  0  0  0   0   0   0  .333  .333  .333  .666 
Juan Encarnacion      6     6   3  0  0  1   3   0   1  .500  .500 1.000 1.500 
Albert Pujols         5     5   0  0  0  0   0   0   1  .000  .000  .000  .000 
Scott Rolen           5     3   0  0  0  0   0   2   1  .000  .400  .000  .400 
David Eckstein        4     2   0  0  0  0   0   1   0  .000  .500  .000  .500 
Jim Edmonds           3     2   1  0  0  0   0   1   0  .500  .667  .500 1.167 
Aaron Miles           3     3   0  0  0  0   0   0   0  .000  .000  .000  .000 
Yadier Molina         3     2   0  0  0  0   0   1   0  .000  .333  .000  .333 
Gary Bennett          2     2   2  0  0  1   1   0   0 1.000 1.000 2.500 3.500

 

Chicago Cubs Vs. Braden Looper

                    **PA**  AB  H  2B 3B HR RBI  BB  SO   BA   OBP   SLG   OPS
+-----------------+-------+---+---+--+--+--+---+---+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+
Aramis Ramirez       17    16   4  0  0  0   1   0   0  .250  .294  .250  .544
Jason Kendall        14    13   7  2  0  0   3   1   0  .538  .571  .692 1.263
Mark DeRosa          11     9   1  0  0  0   1   2   2  .111  .273  .111  .384
Jacque Jones         10     9   4  0  0  0   0   1   1  .444  .500  .444  .944
Derrek Lee           10    10   3  0  0  1   2   0   4  .300  .300  .600  .900
Ronny Cedeno          6     5   1  0  0  0   0   0   0  .200  .200  .200  .400
Ryan Theriot          6     5   1  0  0  0   0   1   0  .200  .333  .200  .533
Matt Murton           4     4   1  0  0  0   0   0   0  .250  .250  .250  .500
Mike Fontenot         3     3   0  0  0  0   0   0   1  .000  .000  .000  .000
Daryle Ward           3     2   0  0  0  0   0   1   1  .000  .333  .000  .333
Ted Lilly             2     2   0  0  0  0   0   0   1  .000  .000  .000  .000
Jason Marquis         2     2   0  0  0  0   0   0   1  .000  .000  .000  .000
Koyie Hill            1     1   0  0  0  0   0   0   0  .000  .000  .000  .000

 

- Baseball Reference.

Edited August 17, 2007 by Omar

[Cynosure]

Outlook: Good

[Flames24Rulz]

Outlook: Good

 

You would think so, but he shut down the Cubs in the Cedeno oversliding 2B game and he shut us down in the last game of the three game set at Busch a couple of weeks ago.

[Cynosure]

As long as we keep Pujols at bay now, we'll win the series. And if not, I am thinking at worst we split. We do have Lilly and Z going last two games I believe.

[reggiemiller rules]

As long as we keep Pujols at bay now, we'll win the series. And if not, I am thinking at worst we split. We do have Lilly and Z going last two games I believe.

 

I dont know man Pujols isnt even close to the hottest Cards hitter. Edmonds, Rolen, and Molina are all hitting very well the past week and a half.

[soccer10k]

Not only do the Cubs have Rich Hill and his incredibly small run support going but they scored 12 runs on 20 hits today. They'll be lucky to get 2 runs on Friday.

[CubsBears29]

Chicago Cubs Vs. Braden Looper

                    **PA**  AB  H  2B 3B HR RBI  BB  SO   BA   OBP   SLG   OPS
+-----------------+-------+---+---+--+--+--+---+---+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+
Aramis Ramirez       17    16   4  0  0  0   1   0   0  .250  .294  .250  .544
Jason Kendall        14    13   7  2  0  0   3   1   0  .538  .571  .692 1.263
Mark DeRosa          11     9   1  0  0  0   1   2   2  .111  .273  .111  .384
Jacque Jones         10     9   4  0  0  0   0   1   1  .444  .500  .444  .944
Derrek Lee           10    10   3  0  0  1   2   0   4  .300  .300  .600  .900
Ronny Cedeno          6     5   1  0  0  0   0   0   0  .200  .200  .200  .400
Ryan Theriot          6     5   1  0  0  0   0   1   0  .200  .333  .200  .533
Matt Murton           4     4   1  0  0  0   0   0   0  .250  .250  .250  .500
Mike Fontenot         3     3   0  0  0  0   0   0   1  .000  .000  .000  .000
Daryle Ward           3     2   0  0  0  0   0   1   1  .000  .333  .000  .333
Ted Lilly             2     2   0  0  0  0   0   0   1  .000  .000  .000  .000
Jason Marquis         2     2   0  0  0  0   0   0   1  .000  .000  .000  .000
Koyie Hill            1     1   0  0  0  0   0   0   0  .000  .000  .000  .000

 

Based on a combination of these numbers and yesterday's game, here's for a starting lineup of;

 

Theriot, SS

Jones, CF

Lee, 1B (although, with the slump he's in, he should be lower)

ARam, 3B

Kendall, C

DeRosa, 2B

Murton, LF

Fox, RF

Hill, P