9/11 Cubs (Marquis) @ Astros (Backe) 7:05 CSN

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

I'm not sure if I'll get this game or not. It all depends on who's carrying it for the Astros.

[CubmanPi]

Please don't blow this, Cobs. We all know you suck, but Houston sucks worse. At least, they're supposed to.

[UMFan83]

Who's pitching in this series?

 

I've heard Backe, Albers, Williams, Patton, and Wandy at various points in the last 2 days.

 

Is Trachsel for sure on Thursday?

 

Also, I wonder if Larussa will go with Maroth against the Cubs in place of recently blasted Pineiro. If he is truly a genius he will.

 

Trachsel is for sure on Thurs(unfortunately) and I believe its Backe Albers Williams. I know we miss Oswalt and Wandy, unless their manager moves the rotation around to have Wandy face us.

 

I'm pretty sure we are facing Wandy on Thursday. ESPN's pitching probables had Wandy, and I heard Len and Bob talking about it on Sunday.

[CubColtPacer]

This is from an article yesterday on Astros.com:

 

Brandon Backe, not Matt Albers, will start Tuesday's opener against the Cubs, followed by rookie Troy Patton on Wednesday. Woody Williams and Roy Oswalt will then take their regular turns on Thursday and Friday, respectively, with Wandy Rodriguez filling Saturday's slot on eight days' rest.

 

So it looks like Backe vs Marquis, Patton vs. Hill, and Williams vs Trachsel.

[C.C.]

This is from an article yesterday on Astros.com:

 

Brandon Backe, not Matt Albers, will start Tuesday's opener against the Cubs, followed by rookie Troy Patton on Wednesday. Woody Williams and Roy Oswalt will then take their regular turns on Thursday and Friday, respectively, with Wandy Rodriguez filling Saturday's slot on eight days' rest.

 

So it looks like Backe vs Marquis, Patton vs. Hill, and Williams vs Trachsel.

 

Nothing less then 2/3

[anabiono]

This is from an article yesterday on Astros.com:

 

Brandon Backe, not Matt Albers, will start Tuesday's opener against the Cubs, followed by rookie Troy Patton on Wednesday. Woody Williams and Roy Oswalt will then take their regular turns on Thursday and Friday, respectively, with Wandy Rodriguez filling Saturday's slot on eight days' rest.

 

So it looks like Backe vs Marquis, Patton vs. Hill, and Williams vs Trachsel.

 

Nothing less then 2/3

 

god, i hope so

[kujay]

Nothing less then 2/3

 

I was saying the same thing this past Friday.

 

But this time I mean it. There is no excuse for not winning this series.

 

With the Cards pitching staff heading to Cincy (heh), we should be able to pick up another game on them and then shovel the last bit of dirt on them this weekend. As for the Brewers, hope they split the next two and pick up a half-game on them Thursday.

[Warren Brusstar]

Cubs miss Roy Oswalt and recent Cubs Killer Wandy Rodriquez vs. the Stros. The only matchup that scares me here is Traschel/Williams. Its like one of those Maddux/Glavine type old timers duels, only they suck. I assure you that Trasch will be on a short leash.

If Trachsel is on a short leash for this game, hopefully Marshall is ready in the bullpen to fill in any missing innings and receives a chance to earn his job back.

 

Marshall is supposed to pitch in one of the games on Saturday, so I don't know how much he'd be used on Thursday. Kevin Hart will probably be available to pitch, unless Marquis flops tomorrow night.

 

I think Trachsel is going to be used as long as possible with 4 games in 3 days against the Cards this weekend. Marshall is scheduled to pitch game 2 of the DH on Saturday, so he's not likely to be used out of the pen. I'd much rather see them go with Hart or Gallagher as a long man...or better yet...not need to use a long man...

 

i just hope everyone is mentally preparing themselves for a playoff roster that includes Trachsel but not Marshall

 

I think they'll both be left off, although Marshall has a better chance to stick as a second lefty in the bullpen. Clearly, the Cubs view the top four guys for rotation spots are Z, Lilly, Hill, and Marquis. With all the days off, they should really go with a 10 man rotation in the playoffs, although they'll probably stick with 11. My guess is that the bullpen will be Dempster, Marmol, Howry, Wuertz, Wood, Eyre, and probably Ohman.

[Warren Brusstar]

Cubs miss Roy Oswalt and recent Cubs Killer Wandy Rodriquez vs. the Stros. The only matchup that scares me here is Traschel/Williams. Its like one of those Maddux/Glavine type old timers duels, only they suck. I assure you that Trasch will be on a short leash.

If Trachsel is on a short leash for this game, hopefully Marshall is ready in the bullpen to fill in any missing innings and receives a chance to earn his job back.

 

Marshall is supposed to pitch in one of the games on Saturday, so I don't know how much he'd be used on Thursday. Kevin Hart will probably be available to pitch, unless Marquis flops tomorrow night.

 

I think Trachsel is going to be used as long as possible with 4 games in 3 days against the Cards this weekend. Marshall is scheduled to pitch game 2 of the DH on Saturday, so he's not likely to be used out of the pen. I'd much rather see them go with Hart or Gallagher as a long man...or better yet...not need to use a long man...

 

i just hope everyone is mentally preparing themselves for a playoff roster that includes Trachsel but not Marshall

 

Disagree, they'd go with Marshall for a potential roster due to his leftiness.

 

you're right, they'll keep them both and leave Murton off

 

I don't know what's the point of having both Tracshel and Marshall - how many long men do you need, esp. with 4-man rotations (and sometimes 3-man rotations)?

 

I heard an interview with Trachsel right after he started, and he was saying things like "I dont think they want to put a guy whos never pitched out of the pen, in the pen during a playoff run so I expect to be starting". Granted this could just be Trachsel talking, but I have a feeling Hendry has told him hed be starting, and not used out of the pen.

 

I've heard Piniella say likewise -- that they won't use Trachsel in the bullpen.

[UMFan83]

Troy Patton is going to be a tough game. He is one of their top prospects and pitched very well against the Cubs at Wrigley a few weeks back. Woody Williams as we all know dominates the Cubs, has a 4.93 ERA overall but a 2.25 ERA in 4 starts against the Cubs this year including 2 ER in his last 11 innings. 2/3 would be nice but I'm not holding my breath.

[gflore34]

From here on out I believe the Cubs biggest obstacle is themselves, if they play well, there's no reason 2 of 3 in Houston, and 3 of 4 in St. Louis shouldn't happen.

 

Anyone else think the Cards are done?

[SouthSideRyan]

From here on out I believe the Cubs biggest obstacle is themselves, if they play well, there's no reason 2 of 3 in Houston, and 3 of 4 in St. Louis shouldn't happen.

 

Anyone else think the Cards are done?

 

I(and others) said they were like 3 weeks ago.

[Roast]

Marquis in the juicebox vs. Cy Backe.

 

 

Oh this game will be fun.

[Twiggy]

GO Cubs GO!

[UMFan83]

Marquis in the juicebox vs. Cy Backe.

 

 

Oh this game will be fun.

 

A couple of things to correct in this post:

 

Marquis is 3-1 with a 3.26 ERA in his last 6 starts. The Cubs are 4-2 in those starts (one of those losses is the game Dempster crapped himself against the Dodgers)

 

Minute Maid Park has played as a pitchers park this year.

[inari]

From here on out I believe the Cubs biggest obstacle is themselves, if they play well, there's no reason 2 of 3 in Houston, and 3 of 4 in St. Louis shouldn't happen.

 

Anyone else think the Cards are done?

 

I(and others) said they were like 3 weeks ago.

 

I (and others) said they were done in April.

 

And yes, the Cubs have the inside track to a division crown. If we don't win it, it's not likely to be because the Brewers went on a tear.

[Soul]

From here on out I believe the Cubs biggest obstacle is themselves, if they play well, there's no reason 2 of 3 in Houston, and 3 of 4 in St. Louis shouldn't happen.

 

Anyone else think the Cards are done?

 

I'm at the point where I'm wondering what kind of voodoo LaRussa will have to pull to keep them in it.

 

I'm not sure about the Cubs, but I definitely don't see the Brewers playing 4 games worse than the Cards from here on out. And if it's a tie, the game goes to Miller Park where I'm pretty sure the Crew would pound the Cards into the sand.

 

I'm hoping the Cubs just outpace both of 'em of course.

[gflore34]

From here on out I believe the Cubs biggest obstacle is themselves, if they play well, there's no reason 2 of 3 in Houston, and 3 of 4 in St. Louis shouldn't happen.

 

Anyone else think the Cards are done?

 

I'm at the point where I'm wondering what kind of voodoo LaRussa will have to pull to keep them in it.

 

I'm not sure about the Cubs, but I definitely don't see the Brewers playing 4 games worse than the Cards from here on out. And if it's a tie, the game goes to Miller Park where I'm pretty sure the Crew would pound the Cards into the sand.

 

I'm hoping the Cubs just outpace both of 'em of course.

 

I don't know what kind of Black Magic is necessary to keep them in it, that's a terrible team I saw play the Cubs. A team with a bunch of poor to barely average relief and starting pitchers and exactly one hitter.

[cubweiser03]

From here on out I believe the Cubs biggest obstacle is themselves, if they play well, there's no reason 2 of 3 in Houston, and 3 of 4 in St. Louis shouldn't happen.

 

Anyone else think the Cards are done?

 

I(and others) said they were like 3 weeks ago.

 

Yeah, now they are just sitting on the warming rack.

The only way they make it is if the Cubs/Brewers get incinerated.

[chuckywang]

From here on out I believe the Cubs biggest obstacle is themselves, if they play well, there's no reason 2 of 3 in Houston, and 3 of 4 in St. Louis shouldn't happen.

 

Anyone else think the Cards are done?

 

I'm at the point where I'm wondering what kind of voodoo LaRussa will have to pull to keep them in it.

 

I'm not sure about the Cubs, but I definitely don't see the Brewers playing 4 games worse than the Cards from here on out. And if it's a tie, the game goes to Miller Park where I'm pretty sure the Crew would pound the Cards into the sand.

 

I'm hoping the Cubs just outpace both of 'em of course.

 

I don't know what kind of Black Magic is necessary to keep them in it, that's a terrible team I saw play the Cubs. A team with a bunch of poor to barely average relief and starting pitchers and exactly one hitter.

 

Like I said, other teams besides the Cubs just don't seem to realize the Cards are terrible. At least now that they've lost 4 straight teams are starting to come around.

[Bruno7481]

Marquis in the juicebox vs. Cy Backe.

 

 

Oh this game will be fun.

 

A couple of things to correct in this post:

 

Marquis is 3-1 with a 3.26 ERA in his last 6 starts. The Cubs are 4-2 in those starts (one of those losses is the game Dempster crapped himself against the Dodgers)

 

Minute Maid Park has played as a pitchers park this year.

 

Did you not get the memo that its unnecessary to actually look at Marquis' numbers?

 

he sucks, at least that is what I'm told anyway.

[RammyFanny]

No offense to Kendall, but...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Geovany Soto.

[weatherdood]

No offense to Kendall, but...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Geovany Soto.

 

Even though Kendall has a 1.167 OPS against Backe??? Ok, yeah, it's just 3 ABs...but it still looks cool! :D

[weatherdood]

Both the Cards and Brewers start their games an hour before the Cubs do...so by the time our game begins, we should have a pretty good idea about what we need to do.

[squally1313]

Both the Cards and Brewers start their games an hour before the Cubs do...so by the time our game begins, we should have a pretty good idea about what we need to do.

 

You mean win? I could have told you that a while ago...