7/29 BigZ makes it W3 (There's a game at 7:05pm on WGN TV)

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Z wasn't trouble at all after the second inning, and threw his last inning entirely from the windup. His outing isn't that big a deal.

 

On the other hand, Samardzija pitching this inning is stupid.

 

Why? Maybe Lou will actually only pitch him every other day for a while.

 

Because they don't need him to pitch this inning, they might need him tomorrow when it's closer and they don't want Howry or Cotts pitching in a crucial situation.

 

he can pitch back to back days... just because he hasn't done it doesn't mean he can't.

 

Yeah, I'd just rather that back to back be in situations that matter, like potentially tomorrow and Thursday. Especially when Eyre hasn't pitched since the Cold War and we're up 7.

[CubsBears29]

Man, I would have been very happy if we won just 1 of these first 2. To take both against Sabathia and Sheets is just awesome. Statement games for sure.

 

Exactly, I'd have been ok with a split in this series... losing to CC and Sheets, but now that we've won those... it almost feels like anything less than a 3-1 series win will almost be a let down.

[CubmanPi]

got to sort out this situation with eyre. Hendry needs to ask what in the blue hell is going on otherwise we are 1 man down constantly. Sort it out lou and jim.

 

In all likelihood they sorted it out long ago and just don't care to share every detail of their decisions with the likes of you & me.

Whoever told them they could make decisions without consulting me first ought to be ashamed.

[badger1679666666]

It IS Shark week people...

[ELCABALLO45]

:hello: Just got to tip the cap tonight.

 

Zambrano pitched great, and when Sheets made a mistake the Cubs capitalized on it and made Sheets work.

Always tough to watch your defense perform like that. Beating Sheets and Sabathia back to back was huge, regardless of how it happened.

 

No doubt. It feels like last week when we beat the Cards game 1 and 2 when we had Sabathia and Sheets going the next 2 except the other way around. However I dont think it would matter who was pitching tonight Zambrano was on and wearing out the Strike zone.

[Soul]

Z wasn't trouble at all after the second inning, and threw his last inning entirely from the windup. His outing isn't that big a deal.

 

On the other hand, Samardzija pitching this inning is stupid.

 

Why? Maybe Lou will actually only pitch him every other day for a while.

 

Because they don't need him to pitch this inning, they might need him tomorrow when it's closer and they don't want Howry or Cotts pitching in a crucial situation.

 

he can pitch back to back days... just because he hasn't done it doesn't mean he can't.

 

Yeah, I'd just rather that back to back be in situations that matter, like potentially tomorrow and Thursday. Especially when Eyre hasn't pitched since the Cold War and we're up 7.

 

I understand the Eyre thing, but I don't think it's necessarily the right thing to annoint Shark a big pressure pitcher after 4 innings of work. I think this was actually a very good time for Lou to get him his first road appearance -- let the kid field an easy outing, let him work on his control a bit more when it can't hurt him.

 

Gaudin + Marmol = plenty for tomorrow's game even if Shark can't go. And I think he still could.

[bukie]

No doubt. It feels like last week when we beat the Cards game 1 and 2 when we had Sabathia and Sheets going the next 2 except the other way around. However I dont think it would matter who was pitching tonight Zambrano was on and wearing out the Strike zone.

 

And his supply of maple bats. Dude needs to stop breaking bats over his knee when he's not hitting well. Also, maybe Lou shouldn't make him try to bunt when he's hitting .360.

[Wilson A2000]

Lou's use of the pen really leaves nice wins tasting like Grape Nuts. I hate Grape Nuts.

[Elrhino]

Didn't just beat CC and Sheets ... kind of slapped them around a little bit.

[ELCABALLO45]

No doubt. It feels like last week when we beat the Cards game 1 and 2 when we had Sabathia and Sheets going the next 2 except the other way around. However I dont think it would matter who was pitching tonight Zambrano was on and wearing out the Strike zone.

 

And his supply of maple bats. Dude needs to stop breaking bats over his knee when he's not hitting well. Also, maybe Lou shouldn't make him try to bunt when he's hitting .360.

 

Well breaking your bat over your knee is childish, he is not the only guy to ever do it. And honestly with the way he has pitched this year, who is going to tell him to stop? And breaking your bat over your knee is a hard thing to do.

[Wilson A2000]

Bat handles are so skinny these days that it isn't that hard to do

[SouthSideRyan]

got to sort out this situation with eyre. Hendry needs to ask what in the blue hell is going on otherwise we are 1 man down constantly. Sort it out lou and jim.

 

In all likelihood they sorted it out long ago and just don't care to share every detail of their decisions with the likes of you & me.

 

They sorted it out and their plan was to continue carrying Eyre all year while not pitching him?

[Ball And Glove]

Zambrano pitched a hell of a game. Not much else I can say about tonight.

 

As far as WTMJ predicting that the first two games of the series would be Brewers wins, I'd pretty much disregard it. They're the Brewers' flagship station, and the sports talk in Milwaukee is generally filled with blowhards, anyway. I think most smart Brewer fans (and yes, there's a few of us) realized that the Sheets/Zambrano match-up wouldn't be a walk in the park. I have no doubts that the Milwaukee media will be all over Ben Sheets again, coming up with some lame criticism like "HE CAN'T WIN THE BIG GAMES!! THIS IS WHY HE'S NEVER WON MORE THAN 12 GAMES!!!1ONE!"

 

The general lack of effort from the Brewers after that big inning did kind of piss me off, though...I won't lie. That's probably one of the biggest differences between the Brewers and the Cubs -- the Cubs would never give up on a game when they're down 6-0 at home with 4 innings of at-bats left. Tonight the Brewers were so careless in the field after that inning, it was painful.

 

I guess I could say "the split is still a possibility!" but I don't think there's any chance the Brewers do anything against Harden in the finale. I'm going to just revert to hoping and praying for a win tomorrow to avoid a sweep, and wishing the Cardinals would go back to losing.

 

As far as the number of Cub fans at this game, they guessed on the Brewers pregame show that it was about 40% Chicago fans tonight.

[weatherdood]

Man, I would have been very happy if we won just 1 of these first 2. To take both against Sabathia and Sheets is just awesome. Statement games for sure.

 

Exactly, I'd have been ok with a split in this series... losing to CC and Sheets, but now that we've won those... it almost feels like anything less than a 3-1 series win will almost be a let down.

 

 

Not to sound like Bob Brenly here, but let's not get too carried away here. These are two big wins, make no mistake... but just as unlikely as it was to win these first two games, it's entirely possible that the Brewers could beat Dempster and Harden. I am confident that we'll take at least one of those two, but still, it's far from a guarantee.

[ELCABALLO45]

Wait, WTMJ really said we were going to win both games?

[SouthSideRyan]

Sports talk radio everywhere is full of idiots. It's not just Milwaukee. And I wouldn't worry about the Cardinals B&G. I'd put money that 3 out of 4 of the Mets, Phillies, Cubs, and Brewers are making the playoffs.

[JonnyRed]

We just beat the Brewers best two starters (and two of the better pitchers in the game) and now have Demp and Harden going the next two games. Me likey...

 

Great game by Big Z tonight and it was nice to see the bats come alive as well (13 runs in two games is more like it).

 

Go Cubs! Let's make it 4 in a row tomorrow night...

[Wilson A2000]

Braun hasn't committed an error and still hasn't. Wow!

[TruffleShuffle]

Well breaking your bat over your knee is childish

 

i don't know many children who can break a bat over their knee.

[ELCABALLO45]

Braun hasn't committed an error and still hasn't. Wow!

 

To defend Braun a little bit, this is is 1st year playing OF in his life. He makes the routine plays and sometimes makes the great plays. He just sometimes makes stupid boneheaded plays like tonight. But he also had that nice catch against Fukudome in the 1st. He reminds me alot of Soriano during Soriano's 1st year in the OF. He still plays way to deep but he will get better.

 

And yeah I understand your comment.

[ELCABALLO45]

Well breaking your bat over your knee is childish

 

i don't know many children who can break a bat over their knee.

 

I think you know what im talking about 8-)

[TruffleShuffle]

I guess I could say "the split is still a possibility!" but I don't think there's any chance the Brewers do anything against Harden in the finale.

 

nobody has done much against harden, but he hasn't won a game yet because either the cubs don't score, or the bullpen implodes. harden is great but he can't go long into games, so really the goal against him has to be work the count and keep the game close.

[Vanilla Ice]

Im putting my 5-0 record with the Soriano jersey and the 2-0 record as Vanilla Ice on the line tonight.

ahem

 

make that 6-0 and 3-0

[Brian]

Im putting my 5-0 record with the Soriano jersey and the 2-0 record as Vanilla Ice on the line tonight.

ahem

 

make that 6-0 and 3-0

 

might as well not change or wash any of your clothes till November to be safe

[Jon]

Zambrano striking out Weeks in the 7th:

 

http://i171.photobucket.com/albums/u310/nucubs/zambranostrikesoutweeksgamedaychart.jpg

 

Note the misclassified pitch, the crazy release point, and the 58.9 mph speed as it crossed the plate.