8/23 Nationals (Perez) @ Cubs (Dempster) - 12:05 CSN Chicago

[haubrich91]

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y136/Rocket1124/2008%20Nationals/March/967ddcec.jpg

Odalis Perez: 5-9, 4.06 ERA

 

http://i354.photobucket.com/albums/r438/serxtrm/cubs/dempster.jpg

Ryan Dempster: 14-5, 2.92 ERA

 

This is a rematch from April 25th, in which the Nationals won 5-3 because of a walk-off home run by Wil Nieves. Ryan Dempster is going for his career high in wins with 15, so offense, let's help him out. The Nationals...are the Nationals. They've beaten us three times already this year, so it's impossible for us to win the season series.

 

Go Cubs!

[Jon]

There are good tickets available for this one on tickets.com, including pairs.

[Little Slide Rooter]

seriously...

[Schwarber Fan]

Today's game really sucked

 

Let's win these next 2 and get that ground back.

[Sammy Sofa]

Well, at least the good starters/relievers will be rested and ready to go.

 

Aramis can start being Aramis again any day now, please. It's awesome that 5-8 slots have been so consistently productive this season, but the 3-4 slots are getting rather laughable.

[TruffleShuffle]

Aramis can start being Aramis again any day now, please.

 

i guess you aren't satisfied with his .375/.463/.607 line in august? i guess you are pining for the normal aramis rather than the ted williams that he's been this month?

 

OPS+ the last 5 years: 138, 135, 126, 129, 130

EqA: .307, .302, .292, .293, .297

 

so i have to say that i have no idea what you're referring to.

[Sammy Sofa]

Aramis can start being Aramis again any day now, please.

 

i guess you aren't satisfied with his .375/.463/.607 line in august? i guess you are pining for the normal aramis rather than the ted williams that he's been this month?

 

OPS+ the last 5 years: 138, 135, 126, 129, 130

EqA: .307, .302, .292, .293, .297

 

so i have to say that i have no idea what you're referring to.

 

I should have clarified...I'm a simplistic creature yearning for more HR power out of the 3-4 slots where it's typically found on most teams. Aramis isn't having a bad year at all, but his odd slack (for him) in the HR department combined with Lee's regression to the norm is a tad frustrating given the typical expectations of those spots in the lineup. The power boost throughout the various memebers of most of the 5-8 slots over the year have obviously helped make up for it, but I'd prefer to see the 2 guys in front of them, especially Aramis, to be adding more of their own.

[Guest]

Win the last two and all is well and good.

 

Get it done, Cubs, like you have all year.

 

Oh, and Cubs win 8-2.

[Joe_Cub]

Aramis can start being Aramis again any day now, please.

 

i guess you aren't satisfied with his .375/.463/.607 line in august? i guess you are pining for the normal aramis rather than the ted williams that he's been this month?

 

OPS+ the last 5 years: 138, 135, 126, 129, 130

EqA: .307, .302, .292, .293, .297

 

so i have to say that i have no idea what you're referring to.

 

I should have clarified...I'm a simplistic creature yearning for more HR power out of the 3-4 slots where it's typically found on most teams. Aramis isn't having a bad year at all, but his odd slack (for him) in the HR department combined with Lee's regression to the norm is a tad frustrating given the typical expectations of those spots in the lineup. The power boost throughout the various memebers of most of the 5-8 slots over the year have obviously helped make up for it, but I'd prefer to see the 2 guys in front of them, especially Aramis, to be adding more of their own.

 

who doesn't want to see Lee and Ramirez power up?

 

lucky that others have been carrying their weight. they went into a coma last post-season, would be nice if they were awake for this one.

[weatherdood]

I'd expect a rain delay in this one. Whether it happens at the beginning of the game or during the game is a different question... but should it happen during the game, the bullpen might be put to the test again.

 

Cubs win, regardless.

[CubinNY]

 

I should have clarified...I'm a simplistic creature yearning for more HR power out of the 3-4 slots where it's typically found on most teams. Aramis isn't having a bad year at all, but his odd slack (for him) in the HR department combined with Lee's regression to the norm is a tad frustrating given the typical expectations of those spots in the lineup. The power boost throughout the various memebers of most of the 5-8 slots over the year have obviously helped make up for it, but I'd prefer to see the 2 guys in front of them, especially Aramis, to be adding more of their own.

That's a very erudite response. I like it.

 

However, I think the power outage is partially a function of pitch location. Lee's bat has slowed so he isn't able to turn on a good fastball inside and Aramis isn't getting many pitches inside.

[kjfoster 1553]

Cubs win, 8-2 (let my girlfriend predict this one, she's a bit of a homer)

[Soul]

Heading out to the game in a little bit. I like to get there early.

 

I'm having difficulty accepting the idea that the Nats lay down for the Crew yet put on a display like they did yesterday. But hey, today is a different day.

 

GO CUBS.

[Little Slide Rooter]

We're fighting for a 6-2 homestand here vs. 2 of the worst teams in the game. Make it happen. Offense, Im looking in your direction. Seriously, its the Nationals. The god damn Nationals. Beat them. Its why they exist.

[CubmanPi]

Off to work to miss the whole game and be cut off from the outside world. Cobs, if you pull that crap again, we's gonna have words.

[Sammy Sofa]

Aramis can start being Aramis again any day now, please.

 

i guess you aren't satisfied with his .375/.463/.607 line in august? i guess you are pining for the normal aramis rather than the ted williams that he's been this month?

 

OPS+ the last 5 years: 138, 135, 126, 129, 130

EqA: .307, .302, .292, .293, .297

 

so i have to say that i have no idea what you're referring to.

 

I should have clarified...I'm a simplistic creature yearning for more HR power out of the 3-4 slots where it's typically found on most teams. Aramis isn't having a bad year at all, but his odd slack (for him) in the HR department combined with Lee's regression to the norm is a tad frustrating given the typical expectations of those spots in the lineup. The power boost throughout the various memebers of most of the 5-8 slots over the year have obviously helped make up for it, but I'd prefer to see the 2 guys in front of them, especially Aramis, to be adding more of their own.

 

who doesn't want to see Lee and Ramirez power up?

 

lucky that others have been carrying their weight. they went into a coma last post-season, would be nice if they were awake for this one.

 

It's worrisome to think that the Cubs might have to rely on a group of players who are overproducing in October, because it's very likely they will no longer be overproducing at that point. Those players should be augmenting the performances of the 3-4 hitters, not making up for them for huge chunks of the season.

[CuseCubFan69]

Heading out to the game in a little bit. I like to get there early.

 

I'm having difficulty accepting the idea that the Nats lay down for the Crew yet put on a display like they did yesterday. But hey, today is a different day.

 

GO CUBS.

 

I hope you and the Cubs have a better day.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Aramis can start being Aramis again any day now, please.

 

i guess you aren't satisfied with his .375/.463/.607 line in august? i guess you are pining for the normal aramis rather than the ted williams that he's been this month?

 

OPS+ the last 5 years: 138, 135, 126, 129, 130

EqA: .307, .302, .292, .293, .297

 

so i have to say that i have no idea what you're referring to.

 

I should have clarified...I'm a simplistic creature yearning for more HR power out of the 3-4 slots where it's typically found on most teams. Aramis isn't having a bad year at all, but his odd slack (for him) in the HR department combined with Lee's regression to the norm is a tad frustrating given the typical expectations of those spots in the lineup. The power boost throughout the various memebers of most of the 5-8 slots over the year have obviously helped make up for it, but I'd prefer to see the 2 guys in front of them, especially Aramis, to be adding more of their own.

 

who doesn't want to see Lee and Ramirez power up?

 

lucky that others have been carrying their weight. they went into a coma last post-season, would be nice if they were awake for this one.

 

It's worrisome to think that the Cubs might have to rely on a group of players who are overproducing in October, because it's very likely they will no longer be overproducing at that point. Those players should be augmenting the performances of the 3-4 hitters, not making up for them for huge chunks of the season.

 

Aramis is just fine, but I agree that Lee just doesnt cut it anymore as a number 3. Number 3 should be your best all around hitter, and Lee aint it this year. A productive Soriano would be an ideal #3, but he doesnt want to hit there. I wouldnt be opposed to batting DeRosa 3 for a little while and see how it works out.

 

I also find it a bit disturbing that the best offense in baseball has 1 guy OPSing above .900, and its a pitcher.

[otis89]

Cubs

 

Soriano LF

Theriot SS

Lee 1B

Ramirez 3B

Johnson CF

DeRosa 2B

Soto C

Fukudome RF

Dempster P

 

Nationals

 

Bonifacio 2B

Harris LF

Zimmerman 3B

Milledge CF

Belliard 1B

Flores C

Kearns RF

Hernandez SS

Perez P

[C.C.]

Dempster should have no problems with their lineup. I expect to win big today.

[anabiono]

Aramis can start being Aramis again any day now, please.

 

i guess you aren't satisfied with his .375/.463/.607 line in august? i guess you are pining for the normal aramis rather than the ted williams that he's been this month?

 

OPS+ the last 5 years: 138, 135, 126, 129, 130

EqA: .307, .302, .292, .293, .297

 

so i have to say that i have no idea what you're referring to.

 

I should have clarified...I'm a simplistic creature yearning for more HR power out of the 3-4 slots where it's typically found on most teams. Aramis isn't having a bad year at all, but his odd slack (for him) in the HR department combined with Lee's regression to the norm is a tad frustrating given the typical expectations of those spots in the lineup. The power boost throughout the various memebers of most of the 5-8 slots over the year have obviously helped make up for it, but I'd prefer to see the 2 guys in front of them, especially Aramis, to be adding more of their own.

 

who doesn't want to see Lee and Ramirez power up?

 

lucky that others have been carrying their weight. they went into a coma last post-season, would be nice if they were awake for this one.

 

It's worrisome to think that the Cubs might have to rely on a group of players who are overproducing in October, because it's very likely they will no longer be overproducing at that point. Those players should be augmenting the performances of the 3-4 hitters, not making up for them for huge chunks of the season.

 

Aramis is just fine, but I agree that Lee just doesnt cut it anymore as a number 3. Number 3 should be your best all around hitter, and Lee aint it this year. A productive Soriano would be an ideal #3, but he doesnt want to hit there. I wouldnt be opposed to batting DeRosa 3 for a little while and see how it works out.

 

I also find it a bit disturbing that the best offense in baseball has 1 guy OPSing above .900, and its a pitcher.

 

wow, i did not know that...good find...that IS slightly disturbing...

 

honestly, I think that september will be the test for this team...i think they have a chance at playing mediocre ball and still squeaking in the post season...

 

however, i don't want to see them do that. i want to see them slaughter teams in september because i don't want to be let down like last year

[David]

It's not disturbing and the reason it's the best offense in the NL is because we have good production at every position.

 

That's far more important than whether or not we have great production at one or two of them.

[Mizzou]

It sure would be nice to be able to watch this game. Thanks Fox!

[David]

wow, i did not know that...good find...that IS slightly disturbing...

 

honestly, I think that september will be the test for this team...i think they have a chance at playing mediocre ball and still squeaking in the post season...

 

however, i don't want to see them do that. i want to see them slaughter teams in september because i don't want to be let down like last year

 

They played well last September.

 

How they do in September will have little to no bearing on how they do in October outside of actually getting them there.

[anabiono]

wow, i did not know that...good find...that IS slightly disturbing...

 

honestly, I think that september will be the test for this team...i think they have a chance at playing mediocre ball and still squeaking in the post season...

 

however, i don't want to see them do that. i want to see them slaughter teams in september because i don't want to be let down like last year

 

They played well last September.

 

How they do in September will have little to no bearing on how they do in October outside of actually getting them there.

 

really? not the end of september...they were just worn out...they looked awful for the fish and then not the best vs. the reds?!? i think...

 

i understand where you are coming from but if you look at the cubs in the playoffs last year, they sure did look a lot like the cubs from that series in miami