Dempster to be available from the pen for games 3 and 4

[David]

Pulling out all the stops.

 

If Lou winds up having to use him he'll pitch Z on normal rest on Tuesday if necessary.

"I'm going to put Dempster in the bullpen [for Game 3]," he said. "We'll have him in the bullpen available [saturday and Sunday]. And if he pitches, we can start Zambrano on Tuesday, which would be his fifth day. We're going to pull out all the stops that we can and do whatever we can."

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-081003-chicago-cubs-zambrano-game-5-starter,0,4456418.story

[Cynosure]

Pulling out all the stops.

 

If Lou winds up having to use him he'll pitch Z on normal rest on Tuesday if necessary.

"I'm going to put Dempster in the bullpen [for Game 3]," he said. "We'll have him in the bullpen available [saturday and Sunday]. And if he pitches, we can start Zambrano on Tuesday, which would be his fifth day. We're going to pull out all the stops that we can and do whatever we can."

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-081003-chicago-cubs-zambrano-game-5-starter,0,4456418.story

 

I like this move... showing Lou isn't giving up anything. Like I've been saying... if the Cubs win tomorrow I like our chances.

[splintersag]

I like this decision, I guess. Zambrano didn't play great yesterday, but he clearly earned it more than Dempster did.

 

Let's wait and see if we get that far, but if we do, I agree with choice to pitch Z.

[Cynosure]

I like this decision, I guess. Zambrano didn't play great yesterday, but he clearly earned it more than Dempster did.

 

Let's wait and see if we get that far, but if we do, I agree with choice to pitch Z.

 

How did Zambrano not 'play' well last night?

[Soul]

I like this decision, I guess. Zambrano didn't play great yesterday, but he clearly earned it more than Dempster did.

 

Let's wait and see if we get that far, but if we do, I agree with choice to pitch Z.

Zambrano looked great to me until we decided catching the ball was no longer a priority. To me he did well, it was the rest of the infield that let him down. Pretty hard to pitch like an all-star after an all-time crapfest like that.

[David]

I can't imagine Z having handled the screw ups much better than he did last night. It's just a shame he had to give up the big hit.

[Cynosure]

I can't imagine Z having handled the screw ups much better than he did last night. It's just a shame he had to give up the big hit.

 

Yea... seriously, I thought Zambrano was going to choke slam everyone in the infield. Instead he kept his cool had put up a nice start.

Edited October 4, 2008 by Cynosure

[Hairyducked Idiot]

I like this decision, I guess. Zambrano didn't play great yesterday, but he clearly earned it more than Dempster did.

 

Let's wait and see if we get that far, but if we do, I agree with choice to pitch Z.

Zambrano looked great to me until we decided catching the ball was no longer a priority. To me he did well, it was the rest of the infield that let him down. Pretty hard to pitch like an all-star after an all-time crapfest like that.

 

Zambrano was decent last night, but even if the infield doesn't get boot happy he still gave up a fair number of line drives and a home run.

[cbbryan]

I like this decision, I guess. Zambrano didn't play great yesterday, but he clearly earned it more than Dempster did.

 

Let's wait and see if we get that far, but if we do, I agree with choice to pitch Z.

Zambrano looked great to me until we decided catching the ball was no longer a priority. To me he did well, it was the rest of the infield that let him down. Pretty hard to pitch like an all-star after an all-time crapfest like that.

 

Zambrano was decent last night, but even if the infield doesn't get boot happy he still gave up a fair number of line drives and a home run.

 

That happens when you get stuck out on the mound and your defense gives the opposing team 6-7 outs in an inning.

Edited October 4, 2008 by cbbryan

[Cynosure]

I like this decision, I guess. Zambrano didn't play great yesterday, but he clearly earned it more than Dempster did.

 

Let's wait and see if we get that far, but if we do, I agree with choice to pitch Z.

Zambrano looked great to me until we decided catching the ball was no longer a priority. To me he did well, it was the rest of the infield that let him down. Pretty hard to pitch like an all-star after an all-time crapfest like that.

 

Zambrano was decent last night, but even if the infield doesn't get boot happy he still gave up a fair number of line drives and a home run.

 

That happens when you get stuck out on the mound and your defense gives the opposing team 6-7 outs in an inning.

 

Exactly.

[Sammy Sofa]

I like this decision, I guess. Zambrano didn't play great yesterday, but he clearly earned it more than Dempster did.

 

Let's wait and see if we get that far, but if we do, I agree with choice to pitch Z.

Zambrano looked great to me until we decided catching the ball was no longer a priority. To me he did well, it was the rest of the infield that let him down. Pretty hard to pitch like an all-star after an all-time crapfest like that.

 

I got home after the 2nd inning shindig last night and hearing the score I fully assumed it was Z's fault.

 

Sorry, Z.

[splintersag]

Even if we didn't have defensive errors, the Dodgers had a couple well hit balls. He didn't look great yesterday, not even considering the D, but he was servicable and we probably would've given him the win with a good offense and defense.

 

I'm not saying he was bad, just not great either.

[Soul]

Well hit grounders right to infielders. I'd hardly call those "well hit balls."

[17 Seconds]

I can't imagine Z having handled the screw ups much better than he did last night. It's just a shame he had to give up the big hit.

 

It really really really pisses me off that all the jokers on ESPN last night and today were talking about how "the bad Zambrano" showed up. Give me a break. He gave up 3 runs- one of which wouldn't have occured if not for Theriot and Derosa blowing it, another on a Manny home run, and the 3rd when he was out of the game and Cotts allowed the run to score. He was throwing strikes and had great stuff.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Well hit grounders right to infielders. I'd hardly call those "well hit balls."

 

I was referring to several of the other hits he allowed.

 

And yes, the ground balls that the fielders booted were also hard-hit. If he hadn't been unlucky they were booted, he'd have been very lucky they were at'em balls.

 

He was adequate last night, but nothing particularly special. Whether you consider that "good" or not is semantics.

[splintersag]

Well hit grounders right to infielders. I'd hardly call those "well hit balls."

 

I was referring to several of the other hits he allowed.

 

And yes, the ground balls that the fielders booted were also hard-hit. If he hadn't been unlucky they were booted, he'd have been very lucky they were at'em balls.

 

He was adequate last night, but nothing particularly special. Whether you consider that "good" or not is semantics.

 

Agreed. I think Z was "good", just not "great".

[17 Seconds]

Well hit grounders right to infielders. I'd hardly call those "well hit balls."

 

I was referring to several of the other hits he allowed.

 

And yes, the ground balls that the fielders booted were also hard-hit. If he hadn't been unlucky they were booted, he'd have been very lucky they were at'em balls.

 

He was adequate last night, but nothing particularly special. Whether you consider that "good" or not is semantics.

 

He should have only allowed 1 run, and that on a home run from a guy who homers off of everybody. He was pounding the zone and was not just "adequate", he was the good Zambrano. Not to mention that ridiculous 2nd inning wore him down and made him throw a ton of pitches. If Derosa turns that double play I can say with confidence that he would have gone at least 7 innings, giving up just the one run.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Well hit grounders right to infielders. I'd hardly call those "well hit balls."

 

I was referring to several of the other hits he allowed.

 

And yes, the ground balls that the fielders booted were also hard-hit. If he hadn't been unlucky they were booted, he'd have been very lucky they were at'em balls.

 

He was adequate last night, but nothing particularly special. Whether you consider that "good" or not is semantics.

 

He should have only allowed 1 run, and that on a home run from a guy who homers off of everybody. He was pounding the zone and was not just "adequate", he was the good Zambrano. Not to mention that ridiculous 2nd inning wore him down and made him throw a ton of pitches. If Derosa turns that double play I can say with confidence that he would have gone at least 7 innings, giving up just the one run.

 

I can say with confidence that a pitcher giving up 1.25 baserunners per inning (excluding ROE) is probably not going to go 7 IP/1 run unless he is very, very lucky.

[cbbryan]

Well hit grounders right to infielders. I'd hardly call those "well hit balls."

 

I was referring to several of the other hits he allowed.

 

And yes, the ground balls that the fielders booted were also hard-hit. If he hadn't been unlucky they were booted, he'd have been very lucky they were at'em balls.

 

He was adequate last night, but nothing particularly special. Whether you consider that "good" or not is semantics.

 

He should have only allowed 1 run, and that on a home run from a guy who homers off of everybody. He was pounding the zone and was not just "adequate", he was the good Zambrano. Not to mention that ridiculous 2nd inning wore him down and made him throw a ton of pitches. If Derosa turns that double play I can say with confidence that he would have gone at least 7 innings, giving up just the one run.

 

I agree. Z wasn't the problem last night.

[17 Seconds]

Well hit grounders right to infielders. I'd hardly call those "well hit balls."

 

I was referring to several of the other hits he allowed.

 

And yes, the ground balls that the fielders booted were also hard-hit. If he hadn't been unlucky they were booted, he'd have been very lucky they were at'em balls.

 

He was adequate last night, but nothing particularly special. Whether you consider that "good" or not is semantics.

 

He should have only allowed 1 run, and that on a home run from a guy who homers off of everybody. He was pounding the zone and was not just "adequate", he was the good Zambrano. Not to mention that ridiculous 2nd inning wore him down and made him throw a ton of pitches. If Derosa turns that double play I can say with confidence that he would have gone at least 7 innings, giving up just the one run.

 

I can say with confidence that a pitcher giving up 1.25 baserunners per inning (excluding ROE) is probably not going to go 7 IP/1 run unless he is very, very lucky.

 

Did you even watch the game? If Theriot uses his glove or Derosa turns the double play there's one of his ER taken off. If Zambrano finished the 7th instead of Cotts the 3rd run probably doesn't score. Boom, 7 runs 1 inning right there (that's no my speculation, that's simple math), and that's not even counting the fact that 2 of those baserunners shouldn't count since you can't expect a pitcher to get 6 outs in an inning. Also, how many of those hits were really hit that well? Furcal's was a bunt, that's not Zambrano's fault. The hit and run single that bounced off Theriot's hand wasn't his fault. I can't remember the other hits, but I do remember him throwing hard and pounding the bottom of the strike zone.

 

Really guy, it's okay to admit that a Cubs player played well. It won't kill you to do that. Zambrano didn't walk guys, he was missing bats, and he stayed relatively calm. Stop acting like he didn't pitch well.

[Sosa21MVP]

Pulling out all the stops.

 

If Lou winds up having to use him he'll pitch Z on normal rest on Tuesday if necessary.

"I'm going to put Dempster in the bullpen [for Game 3]," he said. "We'll have him in the bullpen available [saturday and Sunday]. And if he pitches, we can start Zambrano on Tuesday, which would be his fifth day. We're going to pull out all the stops that we can and do whatever we can."

 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/cubs/chi-081003-chicago-cubs-zambrano-game-5-starter,0,4456418.story

 

Too bad Dusty did not take this approach in 2003.

[rynefan]

I can't imagine Z having handled the screw ups much better than he did last night. It's just a shame he had to give up the big hit.

 

I was really impressed with Z's composure, and he did pitch well. No complaints here.

[Old Style]

I can't imagine Z having handled the screw ups much better than he did last night. It's just a shame he had to give up the big hit.

 

I was really impressed with Z's composure, and he did pitch well. No complaints here.

Ditto.