8/15: Cubs (Z!) @ Marlins (Johnson) 6:10p CDT CSN

[Soul]

The Cubs just won their 8th straight road contest for the first time since 1945, and are riding a nice winning streak into the weekend, where they will take on the hated Fish in their ballpark.

 

This is clearly not last year's Chicago Cubs. It's not our father's Cubs, either. This Cubs team is balking at streaks over a century old. They'll be taking on a mere minor trend starting Friday, but are well equipped to deal the Marlins a few losses in that hole they like to call a ballpark.

 

To start things off, the Cubs send a man who radiates Cubdom from head to toe:

 

http://images.google.com/url?q=http://cubsfan.files.wordpress.com/2007/02/zambrano.jpg&usg=AFQjCNHaHIUqvN1DUmST4eDw3EaOn9Nsnw

Z's 3.22/140/1.245 is very solid, and he's looking to bounce back after his last outing. Being the dynamic guy that he is, this shouldn't be a problem.

 

He'll go up against Josh Johnson:

 

http://msn.foxsports.com/fe/img/MLB/Headshots/140x170/7669.jpg

3.19/130/1.418 Josh has pitched well for the Fish, but his sample size is small this year because he was on the DL until recently. Too bad he won't be able to face other, less capable offenses as he does in every other start he makes.

 

As with Jorge Campillo the Cubs balk at good pitching. This should be especially true since we've seen Johnson recently. It's time to break another trend, beat up on these guys for a little while, and enjoy some Florida Sun in the process. ROLLIN' CUBBIE BLUE

[erik316wttn]

Fry the Fish.

 

Pile it on, too. Don't just win, but embarrass them for 2003. Score 8 runs in the 8th inning, highlighted by a DLee double.

 

I hate the Marlins. I hope the Cubs slaughter them this weekend.

[CubmanPi]

I really really hate the Marlins, and I hate when the Cubs play them. I'm down to see the Cubs outscore them by 20 this series.

[David]

I love cocky/confident Soul and erik

 

 

What the hell is this forum coming to?

[erik316wttn]

I love cocky/confident Soul and erik

 

 

What the hell is this forum coming to?

 

Just warning you, though, if the Cubs choke it away again and break my heart once more, I'm probably going to be insufferable this offseason.

 

I never said I was perfect, just self-aware.

[Soul]

I love cocky/confident Soul and erik

 

 

What the hell is this forum coming to?

 

:mrgreen:

[BleacherBadger]

Winning is fun. Keep doing it.

[Omar]

Cubs Vs. Johnson

                    **PA**  AB  H  2B 3B HR RBI  BB  SO   BA   OBP   SLG   OPS  
+-----------------+-------+---+---+--+--+--+---+---+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+
Alfonso Soriano      10    10   2  1  0  0   0   0   2  .200  .200  .300  .500 
Aramis Ramirez        4     4   0  0  0  0   1   0   2  .000  .000  .000  .000 
Kosuke Fukudome       3     2   0  0  0  0   0   1   1  .000  .333  .000  .333 
Derrek Lee            3     3   1  0  0  0   0   0   1  .333  .333  .333  .666 
Geovany Soto          3     2   1  0  0  1   1   1   1  .500  .667 2.000 2.667 
Ryan Theriot          3     2   1  0  0  0   0   1   1  .500  .667  .500 1.167 
Ryan Dempster         2     2   0  0  0  0   0   0   0  .000  .000  .000  .000 
Mike Fontenot         2     2   1  0  0  0   0   0   1  .500  .500  .500 1.000 
Reed Johnson          2     2   2  0  0  1   1   0   0 1.000 1.000 2.500 3.500 
+-----------------+-------+---+---+--+--+--+---+---+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+
Total                32    29   8  1  0  2   3   3   9  .276  .344  .517  .861 

 

Marlins Vs. Zambrano

                    **PA**  AB  H  2B 3B HR RBI  BB  SO   BA   OBP   SLG   OPS  
+-----------------+-------+---+---+--+--+--+---+---+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+
Luis Gonzalez        22    19   5  0  0  0   1   3   6  .263  .364  .263  .627 
Wes Helms            10    10   4  0  0  0   1   0   1  .400  .400  .400  .800 
Hanley Ramirez        8     8   1  0  0  1   2   0   1  .125  .125  .500  .625 
Mike Jacobs           6     5   0  0  0  0   0   1   2  .000  .167  .000  .167 
Josh Willingham       6     5   4  1  0  0   1   0   0  .800  .833 1.000 1.833 
Matt Treanor          5     5   1  0  0  0   0   0   1  .200  .200  .200  .400 
Dan Uggla             4     3   0  0  0  0   0   1   3  .000  .250  .000  .250 
Alfredo Amezaga       3     3   0  0  0  0   0   0   1  .000  .000  .000  .000 
John Baker            3     3   0  0  0  0   0   0   1  .000  .000  .000  .000 
Jorge Cantu           3     2   2  0  0  0   0   0   0 1.000 1.000 1.000 2.000 
Cody Ross             3     3   0  0  0  0   0   0   1  .000  .000  .000  .000 
Scott Olsen           2     2   1  0  0  0   0   0   1  .500  .500  .500 1.000 
Mark Hendrickson      1     1   0  0  0  0   0   0   1  .000  .000  .000  .000 
Jeremy Hermida        1     1   0  0  0  0   0   0   1  .000  .000  .000  .000 
+-----------------+-------+---+---+--+--+--+---+---+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+
Total                77    70  18  1  0  1   5   5  20  .257  .325  .314  .639 

[Derwood]

I hope to never start another game thread this year. Keep it rolling

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Rolling into Atlanta and leaving it in ashes like we were Sherman was fun.

 

Now it's time to go into Miami and beat the out of those !

[Derwood]

Cubs run differential is up to about +160 now

[BigSlick]

Its really such a shame ERA is calculated the way it is, since it made Zambrano's last start overpower his previous awesome starts and now looks like semi bloated 3.22. Well, bloated for big Z that is. In the end he may have given up 9 earned runs, but that can only cost him 1 game in the standings, ah well, there are better metrics out there.

 

Go out and dominate, please. Sweep 'em if possible, but a series win is good enough. Z and Dempster in the series should at least guarantee that.

[Brian]

When the Cubs are done playing this year we are going to look back at this game and acknowledge that this was the start of Zambrano laying complete waste of all those that cross him.

[RedFlash]

When the Cubs are done playing this year we are going to look back at this game and acknowledge that this was the start of Zambrano laying complete waste of all those that cross him.

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98oP5Sc-0sg&feature=related

 

This is what happens when Zambrano has two unlike Z starts in a role. He gets verrrry angry....And you wouldn't like him when he's angry.........

[Guest]

Hopefully I can make it back from UCD media day in time to watch most of this game.

[rawaction]

8 in a row on the road. 2 straight road sweeps.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Was it last year or the year before when the Marlins looked like they were about to give the Mets a run for their money, or at least the Wild Card and then completely fell apart around this time? After their series with the Cards, it looks like they're well on the way. Lets aid the process for them.

[Omar]

Lets get at .500 on the road.

[Soul]

How cool is it that the Cubs are turning their road record around just in time for September?

 

Please continue. By all means -- CONTINUE!

[gflore34]

Much like the White Sox and Brewers if Z keeps the ball in the park the Marlins won't score much and the Cubs should win by 3+ runs. Edited August 15, 2008 by gflore34

[C.C.]

I'm fully prepared to take 1/3 in this series.

[Choonch]

I hate playing in Miami. Even though the Marlins are contending, we'll still be playing in a ballpark that is 80% empty.

[UMFan83]

Its really such a shame ERA is calculated the way it is, since it made Zambrano's last start overpower his previous awesome starts and now looks like semi bloated 3.22. Well, bloated for big Z that is. In the end he may have given up 9 earned runs, but that can only cost him 1 game in the standings, ah well, there are better metrics out there.

 

Go out and dominate, please. Sweep 'em if possible, but a series win is good enough. Z and Dempster in the series should at least guarantee that.

 

It's a shame but I remember reading posts on this board that suggested Zambrano's ERA was a bit healthy based on his FIP (Dempster too). This is just an evening out.

[soapy]

i really hate the marlins. please win.

[louisvillecub]

Please let's have good Z destroy these guys...