5/29 Rockies (Francis) @ Cubs (Marquis) 7:05 pm CSN

[erik316wttn]

That was one heck of a sweep. Eleven games over .500 and tied for the best record in baseball at the end of May. I like this winning thing. Let's do more of it. This game brings the defending National League champions to town.

 

This game pits a crappy pitcher named Jeff Francis

http://assets.espn.go.com/i/mlb/profiles/players/65x90/7383.jpg

1-5, 6.18 ERA, 1.59 WHIP

 

vs another crappy pitcher in Jason Marquis

http://assets.espn.go.com/i/mlb/profiles/players/65x90/6493.jpg

2-3, 4.97 ERA, 1.64 WHIP

 

Nice mugshot there, Jason.

 

This should be a slugfest with these two gas cans on the mound. No reason not to take BP off of Francis. This ought to be 4 in a row. If Marquis is even average, I think we'll win.

 

Let's go Cubs! Let's make it 4 in a row!

[inari]

I had no idea Francis had been so bad this year. He's way too good for those numbers.

[Bote McBoteface]

Jason Marquis looks like a turtle in that picture.

[erik316wttn]

Jason Marquis looks like a turtle in that picture.

 

That or he's about to shank you.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Is it wrong that I just expect to lose when Marquis pitches?

[Outshined_One]

Is it wrong that I just expect to lose when Marquis pitches?

 

It makes the end result that much more palatable.

[VanceJergins]

With all the injuries, the Rockies sported this lineup tonight:

 

Taveras

Seth Smith

Helton

Atkins

Spilborghs

Ian Stewart

Chris Iannetta

Omar Quintanilla

 

...Yikes. If Marquis can't get a quality start against this lineup or one similar, then someone should drop a piano on him.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

With all the injuries, the Rockies sported this lineup tonight:

 

Taveras

Seth Smith

Helton

Atkins

Spilborghs

Ian Stewart

Chris Iannetta

Omar Quintanilla

 

...Yikes. If Marquis can't get a quality start against this lineup or one similar, then someone should drop a piano on him.

 

better get the piano ready.

[Omar]

Rockies Vs. Marquis

                    **PA**  AB  H  2B 3B HR RBI  BB  SO   BA   OBP   SLG   OPS 
+-----------------+-------+---+---+--+--+--+---+---+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+
Willy Taveras        34    32   9  0  1  0   3   1   4  .281  .324  .344  .668 
Todd Helton          33    28   8  2  0  2   6   5   3  .286  .394  .571  .965 
Garrett Atkins       19    18   4  3  0  0   0   1   1  .222  .263  .389  .652 
Scott Podsednik      18    17   7  2  0  0   1   1   2  .412  .444  .529  .973 
Yorvit Torrealba      9     8   3  0  0  0   0   0   1  .375  .444  .375  .819 
Cory Sullivan         8     7   2  0  0  0   1   0   1  .286  .286  .286  .572 
Aaron Cook            7     7   2  0  0  0   0   0   2  .286  .286  .286  .572 
Jeff Francis          5     4   0  0  0  0   0   1   1  .000  .200  .000  .200 
Ryan Spilborghs       5     5   2  0  0  0   2   0   0  .400  .400  .400  .800 
Jeff Baker            3     2   0  0  0  0   0   0   1  .000  .333  .000  .333 
Chris Iannetta        3     3   1  0  0  1   1   0   0  .333  .333 1.333 1.666 
+-----------------+-------+---+---+--+--+--+---+---+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+
Total               144   131  38  7  1  3  14   9  16  .290  .350  .427  .777 

 

Cubs Vs. Francis

                    **PA**  AB  H  2B 3B HR RBI  BB  SO   BA   OBP   SLG   OPS  
+-----------------+-------+---+---+--+--+--+---+---+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+
Jim Edmonds          12    12   1  0  0  0   1   0   5  .083  .083  .083  .166 
Aramis Ramirez       12    11   3  1  0  1   4   0   2  .273  .250  .636  .886 
Derrek Lee            9     6   6  0  0  0   0   3   0 1.000 1.000 1.000 2.000 
Alfonso Soriano       9     9   2  0  0  0   0   0   2  .222  .222  .222  .444 
Mark DeRosa           6     6   2  0  0  0   3   0   1  .333  .333  .333  .666 
Jason Marquis         4     4   1  0  0  0   0   0   1  .250  .250  .250  .500 
Henry Blanco          3     3   1  0  0  0   0   0   0  .333  .333  .333  .666 
Ronny Cedeno          3     3   1  0  0  0   0   0   1  .333  .333  .333  .666 
Mike Fontenot         3     3   3  1  0  0   0   0   0 1.000 1.000 1.333 2.333 
Reed Johnson          3     3   0  0  0  0   0   0   0  .000  .000  .000  .000 
Geovany Soto          3     3   0  0  0  0   0   0   0  .000  .000  .000  .000 
Ryan Theriot          3     2   1  0  0  0   0   1   0  .500  .667  .500 1.167 
Jon Lieber            2     2   1  0  0  0   0   0   0  .500  .500  .500 1.000 
+-----------------+-------+---+---+--+--+--+---+---+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+
Total                72    67  22  2  0  1   8   4  12  .328  .361  .403  .764 

 

Ha. Don't expect Edmundo.

[Butterscup1679666578]

We got away with a sweep and had almost no offense. Lets get the bats rolling and beat up on an injury-riddled bad Rockies team. 3 of 4 at the very least plz.

[Outshined_One]

With all the injuries, the Rockies sported this lineup tonight:

 

Taveras

Seth Smith

Helton

Atkins

Spilborghs

Ian Stewart

Chris Iannetta

Omar Quintanilla

 

...Yikes. If Marquis can't get a quality start against this lineup or one similar, then someone should drop a piano on him.

 

better get the piano ready.

 

I've got an old and unused one in the basement that can easily be transported and lifted as required.

[genbar]

Jason piano-dropping Marquis.

Love it already.

[Outshined_One]

Jason piano-dropping Marquis.

Love it already.

 

--I dropped the piano!-- doesn't have the same ring to it, though.

[Schwarber Fan]

LOL @ Edmonds 1-12 and Lee 6-6 against Francis

[third eye]

With all the injuries, the Rockies sported this lineup tonight:

 

Taveras

Seth Smith

Helton

Atkins

Spilborghs

Ian Stewart

Chris Iannetta

Omar Quintanilla

 

...Yikes. If Marquis can't get a quality start against this lineup or one similar, then someone should drop a piano on him.

 

Makes me really appreciate how deep their lineup is when healthy. That 3-4-5 destroys any of the forfeit lineups Dusty used to throw out there, especially in 06.

[C.C.]

Let's make it a season high 12 games over .500

[CubColtPacer]

Let's see. Marquis gets into trouble early, some on board declare game over :D

He goes 6, giving up between 2 and 4 runs. He gets a no decision.

 

No prediction on the winner.

[rawaction]

The Rockies have put up more than 4 runs once since Holliday went on the DL. And that 5th run came in the 9th inning of a game they were losing by 16 at the time. They have been shut down the last 2 games in a hitter's park, by Kyle Kendrick and Adam Eaton, both of whom had ERAs in the 5's before their starts. Marquis' best start of the season was in Colorado. He had trouble in the game with Scotty Poddy, so I'd expect him in the lineup.

 

This actually becomes a big game, with Aaron Cook (the Rockies only good starter) going tomorrow. The Cubs offense should get going, as Francis has just 3 quality starts in 10 outings, and has given up at least 5 runs 4 times. The key is getting him early. He's given up 12 first inning runs in 10 starts, and 23 before he gets to his 45th pitch. He has settled down after that.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Were do for an offensive outburst, but not the massive kind that leads to a combined 4 runs the next 3 games.

[mul21]

LOL @ Edmonds 1-12 and Lee 6-6 against Francis

 

And how is it that Fontenot is 3-3 against a lefty?

[UMFan83]

Pitching probables for the series:

 

Francis vs. Marquis

Cook vs. Lilly

_____ vs. Dempster

Jiminez vs. Gallagher

 

We have our 4 and 5 starters going this series, and our number 2 starter is matched up against probably their best, and a guy that owns us and has already owned us once this year. Honestly, the Rockies are down, but I'm thinking a split is likely here. Either that or I am just being a pessimistic jerk.

[Southpaw191679666239]

I'll be at the game tonight and the series wrap-up on Sunday. Here's hoping I'm at the bookends of a 4-game sweep.

[CubColtPacer]

Pitching probables for the series:

 

Francis vs. Marquis

Cook vs. Lilly

_____ vs. Dempster

Jiminez vs. Gallagher

 

We have our 4 and 5 starters going this series, and our number 2 starter is matched up against probably their best, and a guy that owns us and has already owned us once this year. Honestly, the Rockies are down, but I'm thinking a split is likely here. Either that or I am just being a pessimistic jerk.

 

I never think it's terribly pessimistic to expect a split out of a 4 game series. It's a lot harder to take 3 games out of 4 then 2 out of 3, just because you have to send at least one and often both of your worst 2 starters to the mound.

 

I think it's about 50/50 right now between a split and the Cubs taking 3. The only game that seems favorable to either side right now is Saturday's. The other 3 are up in the air.

[Bruno7481]

The Cubs have now won at least 15 games in April and May. Winning 15 games a month will give you 90. Keep it up!

[haubrich91]

Keep up the winning ways. Is it even possible for Marquis to change the way I think about him?

 

Go Cubs!