NLDS: Gm 1 Cubs (Z!) @ DBacks (Webb), 9:07pm, TBS, WGN Radio

[fibro]

Is it just me or does it feel like time has stopped. I'm way to geeked up for this.

[erik316wttn]

I'm worried about which Z will show up tonight. I'd put money on Webb being himself. If Z is the ace we know he can be, I like our chances, but if he gets rattled, stomps around like an idiot, and acts like a petulant child, it'll be a long night.

 

I'm really worried that something like a blown call at first base will set him off and then he'll get shelled.

 

He's obviously had someone in his ear, because he's been quoted saying that he has to remain calm and not get too amped.

 

Edit - that doesn't necessarily mean he will be able to control that.

 

True. I wouldn't object to a fist pump or something if he gets a big strikeout, but I don't want him jawing at the ump and snapping at the ball.

[fiver]

Is it just me or does it feel like time has stopped. I way to geeked up for this.

 

lay off the amphetamines...dems jus jokes. I know what you mean. I'm not a contributor to most game threads...but all I can think about is the game.

[erik316wttn]

What's the scouting report on Webb? What's the best way to beat him?

[CubmanPi]

Any idea what will happen if the Cubs game starts before the Red Sox and Angels game ends?

I've heard talk that TNT would get the start of the game until the Sox are done, and if that happens, I'll be screwed into missing the Cubs. I'll be at a bar which I'm sure won't change away from the game, even if the Sox are up by 12 by then.

 

Where are you located? I'm sure there will be multiple tv's if you're in a bar...ask nicely...if you're in the midwest...you shouldn't have to ask at all.

I live in a very touristy spot on the central Cali coastline, about 2 hours south of San Francisco. I showed up for a Cubs game that I knew would be on WGN on a weeknight in August, and it took 15 minutes for me to finally get one of the 12 TVs to change from a Red Sox game that no one seemed to be paying attention to, yet it was still really crowded.

 

I'll be fighting uphill, I'm sure. The only Cubs fans around here are military, and most military don't come out to this bar.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Zambrano needs a good series or he may cement himself in the fans' doghouse for a long time. He's already walking a fine line with his inconsistency, and he's essentially the pivotal man in this series.

 

That said, this Diamondback lineup is weak and right-handed, which is exactly the kind of lineup Zambrano can plow through.

[fiver]

What's the scouting report on Webb? What's the best way to beat him?

 

have a lineup full of low ball hitters???

[erik316wttn]

I'd much rather win this game than tomorrow, not that I don't want to win both.

 

If we can beat their ace on the road and go back to Chicago at least tied, we're in good shape.

[jyoung55]

What's the scouting report on Webb? What's the best way to beat him?

 

Low ball pitcher who requires a lot of patience. I'm predicting Soriano and DeRo have a good night.

[CubmanPi]

Zambrano needs a good series or he may cement himself in the fans' doghouse for a long time. He's already walking a fine line with his inconsistency, and he's essentially the pivotal man in this series.

 

That said, this Diamondback lineup is weak and right-handed, which is exactly the kind of lineup Zambrano can plow through.

This is definitely a lineup Z should be handling. I'm hoping for an outing along the lines of that last one he had against Pittsburgh. Work quick, go hard at the jugular, beat them into submission. He has given us reason for optimism in rehard to his ability to control his emotions. I think we'll see that tonight.

[fiver]

Any idea what will happen if the Cubs game starts before the Red Sox and Angels game ends?

I've heard talk that TNT would get the start of the game until the Sox are done, and if that happens, I'll be screwed into missing the Cubs. I'll be at a bar which I'm sure won't change away from the game, even if the Sox are up by 12 by then.

 

Where are you located? I'm sure there will be multiple tv's if you're in a bar...ask nicely...if you're in the midwest...you shouldn't have to ask at all.

I live in a very touristy spot on the central Cali coastline, about 2 hours south of San Francisco. I showed up for a Cubs game that I knew would be on WGN on a weeknight in August, and it took 15 minutes for me to finally get one of the 12 TVs to change from a Red Sox game that no one seemed to be paying attention to, yet it was still really crowded.

 

I'll be fighting uphill, I'm sure. The only Cubs fans around here are military, and most military don't come out to this bar.

 

Yeah...for your sake, let's hope the Angels-Sox game doesn't go into extras. They're on pace to be done by 9 for what it's worth.

Edited October 3, 2007 by fiver

[CubmanPi]

What's the scouting report on Webb? What's the best way to beat him?

 

Low ball pitcher who requires a lot of patience. I'm predicting Soriano and DeRo have a good night.

There's going out on a limb if I've ever seen it. Here's hoping you're right!

[CubmanPi]

Yeah...for your sake, let's hope the Angels-Sox game doesn't go into extra's. They're on pace to be done by 9 for what it's worth.

That's good to know. I know the Sox are not strangers to long baseball games this season, so hopefully this pace holds up.

[erik316wttn]

What's the scouting report on Webb? What's the best way to beat him?

 

Low ball pitcher who requires a lot of patience. I'm predicting Soriano and DeRo have a good night.

There's going out on a limb if I've ever seen it. Here's hoping you're right!

 

God, Webb would pitch a 1-hitter if Dusty was still at the helm.

[nilodnayr]

Lineup from CTL on CSN

 

Soriano

Theriot

Lee

Ramirez

Floyd

DeRosa

Jones

Soto

Zambrano

 

Yayyy Lou has Ramirez cleanup. Too bad Theriot isn't batting 8th and DeRosa 2nd.

 

That would be the optimal lineup.

 

No, this is the optimal lineup.

 

Lee

Soto

DeRo

ARam

Floyd

Sori

Jacque

Z

Theriot

 

Soto's #s are probably not exactly credible. If we weight his last year's MLE and his line from this year 2 to 1 then the optimal lineup looks like this.

 

Floyd

Lee

DeRo

ARam

Soto

Sori

Jacque

Z

Theirot

 

If you want to do some minor common sense adjustments you can get

 

DeRo

Lee

Floyd

ARam

Soto

Sori

Jacque

Z

Theriot

 

or

 

Lee

Aram

DeRo

Sori

Floyd

Jacque

Soto

Z

Theriot

 

Moral of the story, Theriot should be nowhere near the top of the lineup.

[ninetynineplus]

Man- i wasn't raised in a cubs household like many of you were.. in this "calm before the storm" i can't help but think of all of the people out there that lived and never may have never experienced the playoffs.. i really want this for all of them.. and i really want this for santo..

 

i don't know what it is about these playoffs.. i wasn't a cubs fan yet in 98 but i was in 2003.. there's just something about this year that makes me feel like it's special.. there's no doubt that it was a wild ride and there is only one proper end..

 

GO CUBS GO!!!

[CubmanPi]

Two more effing hours. How is this even possible? I could swear this morning was 4 days ago.

[RammyFanny]

Lineup from CTL on CSN

 

Soriano

Theriot

Lee

Ramirez

Floyd

DeRosa

Jones

Soto

Zambrano

 

Cubs.com had Floyd in the 4 spot and Rammy in the 5 spot this morning. It seems they took it off though as I can't seem to find it anymore, so you're probably right.

[Omar]

Two more effing hours. How is this even possible? I could swear this morning was 4 days ago.

 

T-minus 2 hours...

[Guest]

What's the scouting report on Webb? What's the best way to beat him?

 

Webb-attack the 1st pitch, it's likely the only FB you'll see that is a strike and his goal is to get ahead early on climb down the ladder with the FB making you ground out or K.

 

He has 1 plus pitch - his sinker.

[jyoung55]

What's the scouting report on Webb? What's the best way to beat him?

 

Low ball pitcher who requires a lot of patience. I'm predicting Soriano and DeRo have a good night.

There's going out on a limb if I've ever seen it. Here's hoping you're right!

 

I was more thinking of Fonzie golfing that sinking fast ball out early in the count.

[ninetynineplus]

Lineup from CTL on CSN

 

Soriano

Theriot

Lee

Ramirez

Floyd

DeRosa

Jones

Soto

Zambrano

 

Yayyy Lou has Ramirez cleanup. Too bad Theriot isn't batting 8th and DeRosa 2nd.

 

That would be the optimal lineup.

 

No, this is the optimal lineup.

 

Lee

Soto

DeRo

ARam

Floyd

Sori

Jacque

Z

Theriot

 

 

Holy crap- tony larussa has joined us!!!!!!!

[muntjack]

Ugggh. I'm getting queasy.

 

Soto should hit 6th.

[ninetynineplus]

i'm sure this has been discussed ad nauseum but what is the advantage of having..

 

lee

floyd

rami

 

vs.

 

lee

rami

floyd

[anabiono]

i can't believe it is so close...

 

HEY HEY