4/6 Astros (Backe) at Cobs (Zambrano), 1:20 PM CT, WGN

[CubmanPi]

I don't think anyone would blame Lou if he hit Zambrano 7th in this lineup.

I was just wondering if the idea behind batting him 9th was to give blanco a little protection.

[dew1679666265]

I don't think anyone would blame Lou if he hit Zambrano 7th in this lineup.

 

I thought exactly that as I looked through the lineup. 1-6 looks good, but 7-8 is pretty ugly.

[Vanilla Ice]

I said it when we signed him and I'll stick with it. Reed Johnson will be the regular CF for the Cubs. It's just a matter of time.

 

ESPN and the Sun-Times are reporting Pie's wrist is bruised after getting plunked. It makes all kinds of logical sense to let a kid who is likely to struggle anyway rest a bruise on his wrist. It's all about the manager putting his player's in the best position to succeed, is it not?

 

Pie suffered a bruise on his wrist after being plunked in the eighth inning of Thursday's game, but he will likely not have an X-ray as it is not considered serious, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

 

I hope this is the case

[dew1679666265]

I said it when we signed him and I'll stick with it. Reed Johnson will be the regular CF for the Cubs. It's just a matter of time.

 

ESPN and the Sun-Times are reporting Pie's wrist is bruised after getting plunked. It makes all kinds of logical sense to let a kid who is likely to struggle anyway rest a bruise on his wrist. It's all about the manager putting his player's in the best position to succeed, is it not?

 

Pie suffered a bruise on his wrist after being plunked in the eighth inning of Thursday's game, but he will likely not have an X-ray as it is not considered serious, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

 

I hope this is the case

 

It's more consistent with what Hendry and Lou have said throughout the offseason. If they really had no faith in Pie, I doubt they would have clung to him the way they did in the Crawford and Roberts trade rumors.

[VanceJergins]

Erstad is batting third?! That kind of puts things in perspective.

[Fred Hornkohl]

Some worthless stats of the day for Sunday...........

 

From last year:

 

CUBS are 10-14 on Sundays

CUBS are 8-7 vs. Houston

CUBS are 45-34 vs. the NLC Division

CUBS are 23-21 when they've won their last 1 game(s) in a row

CUBS are 42-42 when they've won their previous game

CUBS are 26-28 in games that end a series

CUBS are 5-8 in games that close out a home stand

CUBS are 46-38 in day games

CUBS are 44-37 at home

CUBS are 66-53 against right handers

CUBS are 61-20 when they get a quality start.... 24-57 when they don't

CUBS are 32-45 when the opponent gets a quality start.... 53-32 when they don't

CUBS are 64-31 when they score first in the game.... 21-46 when they don't

CUBS are 38-25 when they score in the first inning.... 47-52 when they don't

CUBS are 70-49 when they don't allow any runs in the first inning.... 15-28 when they do

CUBS are 71-31 when they score at least 4 runs.... 14-46 when they don't

CUBS are 66-10 when they allow fewer than 4 runs.... 19-67 when they don't

CUBS have won 6 of their last 9 games against left handed starters

 

.... and this year......

 

CUBS are on a pace to win 65 games this year..... compared to 85 last year and 66 in '06 and 79 in '05

CUBS are on a pace to score 745 runs this year..... compared to 752 last year and 716 in '06 and 703 in '05

CUBS are on a pace to hit 194 home runs this year..... compared to 151 last year and 166 in '06 and 194 in '05

CUBS are on a pace to draw 486 walks this year..... compared to 500 last year and 395 in '06 and 419 in '05

CUBS are on a pace to strike out 842 times this year..... compared to 1054 last year and 928 in '06 and 920 in '05

CUBS are on a pace to steal 162 bases this year..... compared to 87 last year and 121 in '06 and 64 in '05

CUBS are on a pace to ground into 97 double plays this year..... compared to 128 last year and 135 in '06 and 129 in '05

CUBS are on a pace to commit 162 errors this year..... compared to 94 last year and 104 in '06 and 100 in '05

CUBS are scoring 4.60 runs per game this year..... compared to 4.64 last year and 4.42 in '06 and 4.34 in '05

CUBS are seeing 3.85 pitches per plate appearance..... compared to 3.74 last year and 3.68 in '06 and 3.61 in '05

CUBS are driving in 18.8% of their baserunners..... compared to 18.9% last year and 20.0% in '06 and 18.4% in '05

CUBS are scoring 0.377 runs per baserunner this year..... compared to 0.364 last year and 0.370 in '06 and 0.365 in '05

CUBS are getting extra base hits at a 41.9% rate..... compared to 34.1% last year and 32.3% in '06 and 35.8% in '05

 

CUBS are 0-1 when Zambrano starts

Zambrano is 1 of 1 in quality starts

 

Zambrano's starts vs. Houston last year.....

 

Zambrano                IP    H    R   ER   BB    K   HR    PC  BB/9   K/9  HR/9  WHIP   ERA
06/11  vs. Houst       8.0    3    1    0    1    8    0   128  1.13  9.00  0.00  0.50  0.00
07/13  vs. Houst       6.7    3    0    0    3    7    0   115  4.05  9.45  0.00  0.90  0.00
08/08  vs. Houst       5.7    8    7    7    3    6    2   113  4.76  9.53  3.18  1.94 11.12

totals  vs. Houst     20.3   14    8    7    7   21    2   356  3.10  9.30  0.89  1.03  3.10

season totals        216.3  187  100   95  101  177   23  3691  4.20  7.36  0.96  1.33  3.95

 

CUBS' season series vs. Houston this year (1-1).....

 

Gm#    Date       Opponent         Score  Starter         Opp Starter
 4  Fri 04/04    Houston           3- 4  Hill            Sampson       
 5  Sat 04/05    Houston           9- 7  Marquis         Oswalt        
 6  Sun 04/06    Houston            -    Zambrano        Backe         
45  Mon 05/19  @ Houston       N    -    Marquis         Sampson       
46  Tue 05/20  @ Houston       N    -    Zambrano        Oswalt        
47  Wed 05/21  @ Houston       N    -    Lilly           Backe         
96  Fri 07/18  @ Houston       N    -    Zambrano        Oswalt        
97  Sat 07/19  @ Houston       N    -    Lilly           Backe         
98  Sun 07/20  @ Houston            -    Dempster        Rodriguez     
113  Mon 08/04    Houston       N    -    Dempster        Rodriguez     
114  Tue 08/05    Houston            -    Hill            Chacon        
115  Wed 08/06    Houston            -    Marquis         Sampson       
138  Mon 09/01    Houston            -    Dempster        Rodriguez     
139  Tue 09/02    Houston       N    -    Hill            Chacon        
140  Wed 09/03    Houston       N    -    Marquis         Sampson       
147  Fri 09/12  @ Houston       N    -    Lilly           Backe         
148  Sat 09/13  @ Houston       N    -    Dempster        Rodriguez     
149  Sun 09/14  @ Houston            -    Hill            Chacon        

 

CUBS' season series vs. Houston last year (8-7) .......

 

Gm#    Date       Opponent         Score  Starter         Opp Starter
 7  Mon 04/09    Houston           3- 5  Lilly           Williams      
 8  Tue 04/10    Houston           2- 4  Marquis         Sampson       
62  Mon 06/11    Houston       N   2- 1  Zambrano        Williams      
88  Fri 07/13    Houston           6- 0  Zambrano        Jennings      
89  Sat 07/14    Houston           9- 3  Lilly           Oswalt        
90  Sun 07/15    Houston           7- 6  Marquis         Rodriguez     
111  Mon 08/06  @ Houston       N   1- 2  Hill            Rodriguez     
112  Tue 08/07  @ Houston       N   2- 5  Marshall        Williams      
113  Wed 08/08  @ Houston       N   2- 8  Zambrano        Oswalt        
133  Fri 08/31    Houston           1- 6  Marshall        Rodriguez     
134  Sat 09/01    Houston           4- 3  Marquis         Patton        
135  Sun 09/02    Houston           6- 5  Hill            Williams      
144  Tue 09/11  @ Houston       N   4- 5  Marquis         Backe         
145  Wed 09/12  @ Houston       N   3- 2  Hill            Albers        
146  Thu 09/13  @ Houston       N   6- 2  Trachsel        Williams      

 

CUBS' magic numbers:

 

Milwaukee     160
St. Louis     160
Cincinnati    159
Pittsburgh    159
Houston       157

 

 

 

Go CUBS !!!

 

 

 

© 2008, Fred W. Hornkohl

[dew1679666265]

I'm so happy...I finally get to watch regular season Cubs baseball. :D

[Brian]

The blues [jerseys that is] are officially back today.

[VanceJergins]

I'm so happy...I finally get to watch regular season Cubs baseball. :D

 

I'll be getting paid to watch the Cubs game...suck on that.

[Vanilla Ice]

I'm so happy...I finally get to watch regular season Cubs baseball. :D

 

I consider this my first game as well. I got home to watch the 9th and 10th innings of the opener but that was only two innings

[TBone]

His love affair with Ryan freaking Theriot is nauseating. He has been terrible so far this year, as has Pie, but at least Pie plays good D.

 

Theriot's been dropped from first to second to eighth in the lineup in 5 games. If Lou really had a love affair with Theriot, he'd still be hitting at the top of the order.

 

 

Then what would you call it? Lou has continued to play him even though he has had 1 productive month in his entire MLB career, but he still gets to go out there everyday with no worries of him losing his job if he sucks(which he already does). Yet, our top positional prospect, who has torn up every level of minor leagues hes played in, gets 4 damn games to start and then gets benched for at least 2 consecutive games againste RH pitchers, and probably more games this week since we will be facing some lefties. I mean Lou is sitting Pie, against 2 RH pitchers, so he can start a guy who has a career .268 .328 .354 line against RH pitchers in over 1500 ab's, but will continue to roll out a guy who has been horrible for every month outside of 1 of his much longer MLB career. The fact that he moved Theriot down to the 8 hole is meaningless, hes starting every game. Hell the fact he put a guy with a .328 career OBP in the 2 hole says to me, that Lou really doesnt have a clue right now, and hasnt all year.

 

Maybe he's hurt a bit more than we all thought and the extra day of rest will be good for his hand healing?

 

I think everyone needs to get off the ledge.

[dew1679666265]

I'm so happy...I finally get to watch regular season Cubs baseball. :D

 

I'll be getting paid to watch the Cubs game...suck on that.

 

You're a very, very lucky man my friend. How did you manage to make that work?

[VanceJergins]

I'm so happy...I finally get to watch regular season Cubs baseball. :D

 

I'll be getting paid to watch the Cubs game...suck on that.

 

You're a very, very lucky man my friend. How did you manage to make that work?

 

I work for a home-builder and only have about 2 customers come in per day. Hurray for jobs with very little responsibility!

[dew1679666265]

I'm so happy...I finally get to watch regular season Cubs baseball. :D

 

I consider this my first game as well. I got home to watch the 9th and 10th innings of the opener but that was only two innings

 

At least you've gotten to watch something. I haven't seen a pitch until now.

[inari]

The blues [jerseys that is] are officially back today.

 

They look so weird after being used to the pinstripes.

[CubmanPi]

Pretty impressive montage for five games.

[dew1679666265]

I'm so happy...I finally get to watch regular season Cubs baseball. :D

 

I'll be getting paid to watch the Cubs game...suck on that.

 

You're a very, very lucky man my friend. How did you manage to make that work?

 

I work for a home-builder and only have about 2 customers come in per day. Hurray for jobs with very little responsibility!

 

Very nice, my friend.

[dew1679666265]

His love affair with Ryan freaking Theriot is nauseating. He has been terrible so far this year, as has Pie, but at least Pie plays good D.

 

Theriot's been dropped from first to second to eighth in the lineup in 5 games. If Lou really had a love affair with Theriot, he'd still be hitting at the top of the order.

 

 

Then what would you call it? Lou has continued to play him even though he has had 1 productive month in his entire MLB career, but he still gets to go out there everyday with no worries of him losing his job if he sucks(which he already does). Yet, our top positional prospect, who has torn up every level of minor leagues hes played in, gets 4 damn games to start and then gets benched for at least 2 consecutive games againste RH pitchers, and probably more games this week since we will be facing some lefties. I mean Lou is sitting Pie, against 2 RH pitchers, so he can start a guy who has a career .268 .328 .354 line against RH pitchers in over 1500 ab's, but will continue to roll out a guy who has been horrible for every month outside of 1 of his much longer MLB career. The fact that he moved Theriot down to the 8 hole is meaningless, hes starting every game. Hell the fact he put a guy with a .328 career OBP in the 2 hole says to me, that Lou really doesnt have a clue right now, and hasnt all year.

 

Maybe he's hurt a bit more than we all thought and the extra day of rest will be good for his hand healing?

 

I think everyone needs to get off the ledge.

 

I posted a quote from ESPN earlier in this thread that stated he had a bruised wrist. It's certainly in his best interest to sit until that's mostly healed up.

[Andy]

First named blue jerseys since 2004. Glorious.

[Outshined_One]

I'm always confused with what I should do during a performance of "God Bless America" at a ball game. Should I put my hand on my heart? Take off my hat? Stand around awkwardly? Sing along? It's a strange feeling.

[Andy]

I'm always confused with what I should do during a performance of "God Bless America" at a ball game. Should I put my hand on my heart? Take off my hat? Stand around awkwardly? Sing along? It's a strange feeling.

Throw up would be my pick. God Bless America might be my least favorite song in the world.

[dew1679666265]

I'm always confused with what I should do during a performance of "God Bless America" at a ball game. Should I put my hand on my heart? Take off my hat? Stand around awkwardly? Sing along? It's a strange feeling.

 

I've often wondered that myself. Not quite sure what the appropriate answer is, though...

[CubsGM]

Longest National Anthem Ever

[bhogg]

That dude nailed God Bless America --- one of the best I've ever heard.

 

He's doing great on the National Anthem as well.

 

You have no idea how difficult those songs are to sing -- it takes a fantastic range, not to mention the fact that 40,000+ have their eyes and ears on you.

[dew1679666265]

I'm always confused with what I should do during a performance of "God Bless America" at a ball game. Should I put my hand on my heart? Take off my hat? Stand around awkwardly? Sing along? It's a strange feeling.

Throw up would be my pick. God Bless America might be my least favorite song in the world.

 

I actually like "God Bless America," though I guess I'm in the minority anymore.