9/23 Champs (Marshall) @ Mets (Santana) 6:10 CDT, CSN

[Friendly Confines]

The Cubs are looking to shape up their pitching rotation for the playoffs by throwing left-hander

 

http://www.baseballwivescharitablefoundation.com/images/alexis_bio_pic.jpg

 

Marshall takes the hill against the Mets, who are struggling to hold on to their wild card spot as they throw their ace,

 

http://www.brucekphoto.com/santana-suit.jpg

 

 

Even as the Cubs trot out bench players and pitchers fighting for a spot in the playoff roster, we can't seem to lose. If we don't end up playing the Astros, 5-1 will get 100 wins!

 

GO CUBS!!

Edited September 23, 2008 by Friendly Confines

[Soul]

If the Mets can't win tonight then they're gonna blow it again.

 

Nothing against Marshall because I like what he does for us, but every Met fan is going to be ready to blow their collective lid if they don't win this one.

 

I say keep it close, get into that Mets BP, and rip the friggin' hearts out of the Mets just like Soto did to the Brewers a few days back.

 

REVENGE FOR '69!!!

[bukie]

If the Mets can't win tonight then they're gonna blow it again.

 

Nothing against Marshall because I like what he does for us, but every Met fan is going to be ready to blow their collective lid if they don't win this one.

 

I say keep it close, get into that Mets BP, and rip the friggin' hearts out of the Mets just like Soto did to the Brewers a few days back.

 

REVENGE FOR '69!!!

 

The Cubs are running out of teams they can rip hearts out of...first the Cards, then the Astros, then the Brewers, now the Mets. Somebody has to win that wildcard. Who's left, Florida?

[RedFlash]

Hey Cubs,

 

If you can beat CC Sabathia you can beat Johan Santana...So....do it..

[weatherdood]

A win and the Cubs go to 36 over .500 for the first time this year.

[adamb10]

GO CUBS!!! :clap: :clap: :clap:

[UMFan83]

You can absolutely guarantee that Reed Johnson will be hitting in a prominent spot in the order tonight....

 

CUBS VS. SANTANA:

                    **PA**  AB  H  2B 3B HR RBI  BB  SO   BA   OBP   SLG   OPS   SH  SF IBB HBP GDP G_miss YR_miss
+-----------------+-------+---+---+--+--+--+---+---+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+---+---+---+---+---+------+-------+
Reed Johnson         20    19  10  1  0  1   4   1   3  .526  .550  .737 1.287   0   0   0   0   0                
Alfonso Soriano       8     6   0  0  0  0   0   2   2  .000  .250  .000  .250   0   0   0   0   0                
Mark DeRosa           6     6   1  0  0  0   0   0   1  .167  .167  .167  .334   0   0   0   0   0                
Aramis Ramirez        4     4   0  0  0  0   0   0   2  .000  .000  .000  .000   0   0   0   0   0                
Henry Blanco          3     3   0  0  0  0   0   0   1  .000  .000  .000  .000   0   0   0   0   0                
Ronny Cedeno          3     3   0  0  0  0   0   0   2  .000  .000  .000  .000   0   0   0   0   0                
Derrek Lee            2     2   1  0  0  1   1   0   1  .500  .500 2.000 2.500   0   0   0   0   0                
+-----------------+-------+---+---+--+--+--+---+---+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+---+---+---+---+---+------+-------+
Total                46    43  12  1  0  2   5   3  12  .279  .326  .442  .768   0   0   0   0   0      

 

My random guess is

 

Soriano

Cedeno

Lee

Soto

Johnson

DeRosa

Theriot

Fukudome

Marshall

[Ding Dong Johnson]

Reed's got a sexy line against Johan. I'd like to see Kosuke getting more PT, but I imagine we'll see all righties in the lineup tonight

C Blanco

1B Lee

2B Cedeno

3B Ramirez

SS Theriot

LF Soriano

CF Johnson

RF DeRosa

[Warren Brusstar]

My guess -

 

Soriano

Cedeno (SS)

Lee

ARam

DeRo (RF)

Johnson

McGehee (2B)

Blanco

[bukie]

I'm guessing Lou will plan things similarly to yesterday, beginning the game with the starters, and then inserting backups for rest in the later innings.

 

I imagine the lineup will start out as

 

Soriano

Johnson

Lee

Ramirez

DeRosa

Cedeno

Theriot

Blanco

Marshall

[Andy]

I vote we stay Champs. We're 2-0 as Champs.

[pitchcs]

Trib made it sound as if Geo would be playing very minimally these last 6 games.

[David]

dare i say it, but if we pull it off this year, every game thread next year should have the team labeled as world champs.

[UMFan83]

Trib made it sound as if Geo would be playing very minimally these last 6 games.

 

Makes sense with his hand. I'd hope he can play in 2 of the last 6 games and PH in another

[Soul]

If the Mets can't win tonight then they're gonna blow it again.

 

Nothing against Marshall because I like what he does for us, but every Met fan is going to be ready to blow their collective lid if they don't win this one.

 

I say keep it close, get into that Mets BP, and rip the friggin' hearts out of the Mets just like Soto did to the Brewers a few days back.

 

REVENGE FOR '69!!!

 

The Cubs are running out of teams they can rip hearts out of...first the Cards, then the Astros, then the Brewers, now the Mets. Somebody has to win that wildcard. Who's left, Florida?

 

Too far behind, I think. It feels good to be the heart ripper for once instead of the traditional role of heart rippee.

[CubmanPi]

You can absolutely guarantee that Reed Johnson will be hitting in a prominent spot in the order tonight....

I don't know, that OPS is relatively low on slugging, percentage-wise. Maybe he should bat second so he can bunt.

[mlarner]

Trib made it sound as if Geo would be playing very minimally these last 6 games.

Good to hear. Thats the luxury of wrapping up home field early so lets take advantage of it. Hopefully the same idea will apply to D Lee, Theriot and Marmol.

Go Cubs!

[Guest]

My guess -

 

Soriano

Cedeno (SS)

Lee

ARam

DeRo (RF)

Johnson

McGehee (2B)

Blanco

 

McGehee has little experience at 2B (1 game in 2005, 1 in game in 2006 and 1 game in 2008).

[Warren Brusstar]

Lineups:

 

A. Soriano lf

R. Cedeno ss

D. Lee 1b

R. Johnson cf

M. DeRosa 2b

C. McGehee 3b

K. Fukudome rf

H. Blanco c

S. Marshall p

 

J. Reyes ss

L. Castillo 2b

D. Wright 3b

C. Beltran cf

C. Delgado 1b

R. Castro c

R. Church rf

N. Evans lf

J. Santana p

 

I'm giving myself props for calling the McGehee start.

[UMFan83]

This makes sense

 

The first game he did an all reserve lineup

The second game he did our regular lineup

 

now the third game, 3 regulars are sitting.

 

I'm guessing the next game 3 regulars that didn't sit tonight will sit, then the last game the last 2 regulars will sit. Cycle will repeat during the weekend

[UMFan83]

Also....I know its because Fontenot can't hit lefties, and Fukudome is not a regular anymore, but the amount of starts Cedeno is getting lately is interesting.

 

FWIW, Cedeno has put up a line of .321 .406 .393 .799 in September, playing almost exclusively against pitchers who he tends to fare worse against (righties)

[SouthSideRyan]

Casey McGehee batting 6th. You should feel shame Kosuke and Henry.

 

And Sean.

[Warren Brusstar]

Also....I know its because Fontenot can't hit lefties, and Fukudome is not a regular anymore, but the amount of starts Cedeno is getting lately is interesting.

 

FWIW, Cedeno has put up a line of .321 .406 .393 .799 in September, playing almost exclusively against pitchers who he tends to fare worse against (righties)

 

No. Cedeno has had a reverse-split (i.e. he's better against RHP) every single year of his major league career.

[Guest]

Good to see the three guys I'd most prefer to rest get the day off (Soto, Theriot, Ramirez).

[Brian]

Casey McGehee batting 6th. You should feel shame Kosuke and Henry.

 

And Sean.

 

I guess you missed his big coming out party on Sunday.

 

A sac fly and a first major league hit that almost made it to the dirt of the infield.