8/18 other games (a.k.a Astros vs. Brewers)

[C.C.]

It would be nice to pick up a 1/2 game.

[CubmanPi]

I think Houston has a shot at not getting swept, but that's about as optimistic as I can be about that series.

[kujay]

In case anyone is unaware, this game is on ESPN2 tonight at 7:05, Wolf vs. Sabathia.

[UMFan83]

You know what I was just thinking? It's not completely out of the realm of possibility for the NL West, which contains 2 improved teams jumping the NL East leaders who have been sputtering between 8 and 12 games over .500 all year. Right now Ari/LA are only 4 games back of the Mets. Why does this matter? Instead of facing the Dodgers or DBacks, we could be facing the Mets or Phillies.

 

Honestly, I like the matchup vs. NY a lot better than LA or Arizona. After Santana, who would likely face the Cubs at Wrigley, pitchers like Maine, Pelfrey and Perez don't scare me.

[Soul]

Careful what you wish for. We could conceivably go from playing the Dodgers to the Marlins instead of from AZ to NY. And I don't want any part of that ridiculous ballpark, or any of this "ghosts of 2003" crap.

[SouthSideRyan]

Careful what you wish for. We could conceivably go from playing the Dodgers to the Marlins instead of from AZ to NY. And I don't want any part of that ridiculous ballpark, or any of this "ghosts of 2003" crap.

 

Conceivable, but not bloody likely.

[Little Slide Rooter]

In case anyone is unaware, this game is on ESPN2 tonight at 7:05, Wolf vs. Sabathia.

 

I think I'll sit that one out. 8-0 Brewers sounds about right.

[jersey cubs fan]

You know what I was just thinking? It's not completely out of the realm of possibility for the NL West, which contains 2 improved teams jumping the NL East leaders who have been sputtering between 8 and 12 games over .500 all year. Right now Ari/LA are only 4 games back of the Mets. Why does this matter? Instead of facing the Dodgers or DBacks, we could be facing the Mets or Phillies.

 

Honestly, I like the matchup vs. NY a lot better than LA or Arizona. After Santana, who would likely face the Cubs at Wrigley, pitchers like Maine, Pelfrey and Perez don't scare me.

 

 

Oliver Perez is shaky, but he can shut down anybody on any given day. I wouldn't look forwad to facing him and Santana in a 5-game series.

[rawaction]

Does it matter any that the Cubs face the Mets the last week of the regular season? If there is still something to play for at that point, we could be getting a 1st round preview that week.

 

I just decided that I don't fear any team more than any other. I just fear matchups. All teams have tough potential matchups for the Cubs. Santana/Perez for the Mets. Webb/Haren. I'd also hate to see Billingsley and Lowe in LA. I'd worry about Hamels twice in any series.

 

The thing that could throw all the matchups out the window is how the season ends. The Cubs are in a pretty good position. They are the most clear of their division. Meaning, the likelihood that the Cubs can set up their rotation is better than those other teams. It looks like the East and West could come down to the final weekend. If Hamels, Webb, Haren, and Santana have to be used just to get their team in the playoffs, that changes things completely.

[UMFan83]

You know what I was just thinking? It's not completely out of the realm of possibility for the NL West, which contains 2 improved teams jumping the NL East leaders who have been sputtering between 8 and 12 games over .500 all year. Right now Ari/LA are only 4 games back of the Mets. Why does this matter? Instead of facing the Dodgers or DBacks, we could be facing the Mets or Phillies.

 

Honestly, I like the matchup vs. NY a lot better than LA or Arizona. After Santana, who would likely face the Cubs at Wrigley, pitchers like Maine, Pelfrey and Perez don't scare me.

 

 

Oliver Perez is shaky, but he can shut down anybody on any given day. I wouldn't look forwad to facing him and Santana in a 5-game series.

 

I agree, but he's not their number 2 starter (only 1 start in the series), and he's a lefty. John Maine is probably their number 2, and I like the odds vs. him, we hit him well.

[UMFan83]

Does it matter any that the Cubs face the Mets the last week of the regular season? If there is still something to play for at that point, we could be getting a 1st round preview that week.

 

I just decided that I don't fear any team more than any other. I just fear matchups. All teams have tough potential matchups for the Cubs. Santana/Perez for the Mets. Webb/Haren. I'd also hate to see Billingsley and Lowe in LA. I'd worry about Hamels twice in any series.

 

The thing that could throw all the matchups out the window is how the season ends. The Cubs are in a pretty good position. They are the most clear of their division. Meaning, the likelihood that the Cubs can set up their rotation is better than those other teams. It looks like the East and West could come down to the final weekend. If Hamels, Webb, Haren, and Santana have to be used just to get their team in the playoffs, that changes things completely.

 

Speaking of playoff rotations...I hope I am not getting too far ahead of myself, but how would you set up the Cubs?

 

I would consider going Zambrano-Dempster-Harden-Lilly-Zambrano. I would go with this for 3 reasons. One, the schedule is probably Game-Game-Off-Game-Game-Game, meaning that the bullpen would get a day off for Harden's start. Two, setting it up this way gives you the possibility of bringing both Zambrano and Dempster back for games 4 and 5, whereas there is no way Harden can go on short rest. Three, should the above scenario occur, Harden would be well rested to pitch game 1 of the NLCS, and would matchup well against the other team's ace.

 

OK, I am getting really ahead of myself, we will probably tank and not make the playoffs now.

[mul21]

Does it matter any that the Cubs face the Mets the last week of the regular season? If there is still something to play for at that point, we could be getting a 1st round preview that week.

 

I just decided that I don't fear any team more than any other. I just fear matchups. All teams have tough potential matchups for the Cubs. Santana/Perez for the Mets. Webb/Haren. I'd also hate to see Billingsley and Lowe in LA. I'd worry about Hamels twice in any series.

 

The thing that could throw all the matchups out the window is how the season ends. The Cubs are in a pretty good position. They are the most clear of their division. Meaning, the likelihood that the Cubs can set up their rotation is better than those other teams. It looks like the East and West could come down to the final weekend. If Hamels, Webb, Haren, and Santana have to be used just to get their team in the playoffs, that changes things completely.

 

Speaking of playoff rotations...I hope I am not getting too far ahead of myself, but how would you set up the Cubs?

 

I would consider going Zambrano-Dempster-Harden-Lilly-Zambrano. I would go with this for 3 reasons. One, the schedule is probably Game-Game-Off-Game-Game-Game, meaning that the bullpen would get a day off for Harden's start. Two, setting it up this way gives you the possibility of bringing both Zambrano and Dempster back for games 4 and 5, whereas there is no way Harden can go on short rest. Three, should the above scenario occur, Harden would be well rested to pitch game 1 of the NLCS, and would matchup well against the other team's ace.

 

OK, I am getting really ahead of myself, we will probably tank and not make the playoffs now.

 

Actually, I think the worst it would be is game-game-off-game-game-off-game to allow for travel back to the home park for game 5. I think last year there was also the scenario where the team with the best record got to choose if they wanted to play in the series with the extra off day as an added advantage to them for having the best record. So, you could conceivably see them go game-off-game-off-game-game-off-game.

[UMFan83]

Does it matter any that the Cubs face the Mets the last week of the regular season? If there is still something to play for at that point, we could be getting a 1st round preview that week.

 

I just decided that I don't fear any team more than any other. I just fear matchups. All teams have tough potential matchups for the Cubs. Santana/Perez for the Mets. Webb/Haren. I'd also hate to see Billingsley and Lowe in LA. I'd worry about Hamels twice in any series.

 

The thing that could throw all the matchups out the window is how the season ends. The Cubs are in a pretty good position. They are the most clear of their division. Meaning, the likelihood that the Cubs can set up their rotation is better than those other teams. It looks like the East and West could come down to the final weekend. If Hamels, Webb, Haren, and Santana have to be used just to get their team in the playoffs, that changes things completely.

 

Speaking of playoff rotations...I hope I am not getting too far ahead of myself, but how would you set up the Cubs?

 

I would consider going Zambrano-Dempster-Harden-Lilly-Zambrano. I would go with this for 3 reasons. One, the schedule is probably Game-Game-Off-Game-Game-Game, meaning that the bullpen would get a day off for Harden's start. Two, setting it up this way gives you the possibility of bringing both Zambrano and Dempster back for games 4 and 5, whereas there is no way Harden can go on short rest. Three, should the above scenario occur, Harden would be well rested to pitch game 1 of the NLCS, and would matchup well against the other team's ace.

 

OK, I am getting really ahead of myself, we will probably tank and not make the playoffs now.

 

Actually, I think the worst it would be is game-game-off-game-game-off-game to allow for travel back to the home park for game 5. I think last year there was also the scenario where the team with the best record got to choose if they wanted to play in the series with the extra off day as an added advantage to them for having the best record. So, you could conceivably see them go game-off-game-off-game-game-off-game.

 

You are right. And it alternates between leagues every year, and the AL chose last year. But if we are facing Arizona, do you really want to make it possible for the DBacks to go Webb-Haren-Johnson-Webb-Haren?

 

Edit: Nevermind, I looked it up and apparently it only applies to the AL, so the NL never gets to have that option for some reason. Anyone know why that is? Why does the AL have that inherent advantage and the NL doesnt? To the best of my knowledge, the NL has always used a Game-Game-Off-Game-Game-Game schedule with no off day between games 4 and 5.

[UMFan83]

BTW Cecil Cooper predicted that the Astros would sweep the Brewers in this series LOL. Make it happen!

[Little Slide Rooter]

BTW Cecil Cooper predicted that the Astros would sweep the Brewers in this series LOL. Make it happen!

 

Did he predict hed have a job at the end of the season?

[SouthSideRyan]

Harden should pitch before the off day not after it. Harden for game 2 followed by a day off gives the bullpen a day to recover after having to throw a few innings. You figure at worst for game 2(assuming a 9 inning game 1) you're without the use of one guy who went 2 innings in game 1.

[chuckywang]

BTW Cecil Cooper predicted that the Astros would sweep the Brewers in this series LOL. Make it happen!

 

Did he predict hed have a job at the end of the season?

 

The Astros are not out of it yet. I have to say that they exceeded expectations by playing over a .500 record so far.

[SouthSideRyan]

Fun fact: The Astros are as close to the wild card as the Cardinals are to the division lead.

[ConstableRabbit]

Harden should pitch before the off day not after it. Harden for game 2 followed by a day off gives the bullpen a day to recover after having to throw a few innings. You figure at worst for game 2(assuming a 9 inning game 1) you're without the use of one guy who went 2 innings in game 1.

Of course, if Z has no control and sucks it up in game 1....

[SouthSideRyan]

Harden should pitch before the off day not after it. Harden for game 2 followed by a day off gives the bullpen a day to recover after having to throw a few innings. You figure at worst for game 2(assuming a 9 inning game 1) you're without the use of one guy who went 2 innings in game 1.

Of course, if Z has no control and sucks it up in game 1....

 

Then Marshall goes 4, or you stretch out Gaudin or Samardzija for 3. If we're setting up our rotation based on what happens if Z implodes and Harden can't go more than 4, then we don't really have to worry about what order they're in.

[David]

The history of starters starting on short rest is bad. I want nothing to do with it.

 

And, personally, I'd rather go to Harden for game 2 for the reasons SSR mentioned and for the fact that I'd rather have Harden pitch a second time (in a deciding game) if it came down to it.

 

Dempster has been great this year, no doubt, but, out of the two, I'm more confident in Harden. And there'd be nothing wrong with potentially starting an NLCS off with Demp.

Edited August 18, 2008 by David

[Andy]

I love talking about playoff rotations in mid-August, as opposed to any previous year at this time since I have been alive.

 

That is all.

[C.C.]

BTW - Brewers are on pace to draw 3 million fans this year. That's really impressive.

[RammyFanny]

Thank you ESPN2.

[ConstableRabbit]

Harden should pitch before the off day not after it. Harden for game 2 followed by a day off gives the bullpen a day to recover after having to throw a few innings. You figure at worst for game 2(assuming a 9 inning game 1) you're without the use of one guy who went 2 innings in game 1.

Of course, if Z has no control and sucks it up in game 1....

 

Then Marshall goes 4, or you stretch out Gaudin or Samardzija for 3. If we're setting up our rotation based on what happens if Z implodes and Harden can't go more than 4, then we don't really have to worry about what order they're in.

I wasn't. That was tongue-in-cheek