7/20 Cubs (Lilly) @ Phillies (Lopez) 6:05PM CSN/ESPN

[Derwood]

Not to mention that Philly is hardly struggling coming into the series.

 

if they get Halladay, they will be repeat champions.

 

That's an awfully positive statement. Nobody "will" be anything in a baseball playoff setup.

 

I like Boston over Philly for sure with their pitching

[otis89]

Will someone please change the title so it has the correct TV station?

[CyHawk_Cub]

I still don't trust the Cubs offense, and the staff is gonna be severely tested this series. I'll take one win & happily skip out of Philly. Being swept after the positive mojo of the Nats series would be a minor blow.

[Friendly Confines]

Why don't we just sweep the Phils too?

[Guest]

I'd be pretty happy with one out of three. That would mean a 5-2 road trip and you can't complain about that.

[bcl412]

Aramis' 3 run homer against them at Wrigley last year was one of the best moments of last year.

 

Grand Slam actually -

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200808280.shtml

 

That's right. His home run pose on that was epic.

[cubweiser03]

Getting to see Blanton instead of Hamels is probably a good thing, although Blanton seems like a guy who we'd have trouble hitting. As long as we don't get swept I'll consider this a successful road trip.

Let's raise our expectations a tad, shall we? I'm calling 2 of 3 from the Phils

 

I don't think it's unreasonable to expect just one from this series. The Phillies have won 8 in a row, 12 out of their last 13, and are playing in their home ballpark. I'd expect them to take two out of three against any team in the league right now. If the Cubs can take two I'd be very happy, but I don't think only taking one says anything poorly about the team in this case. Getting swept however would be a disappointment and would be giving back the unexpected extra win the team picked up against the Nationals.

 

So the Phills are due to lose then. 8-) Unless they go on colorado hot streak they will lose a couple here and there.

[A New Era]

Aramis' 3 run homer against them at Wrigley last year was one of the best moments of last year.

 

Grand Slam actually -

 

http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN200808280.shtml

 

That's right. His home run pose on that was epic.

 

Any video links of that? Would love to see it.

[RedFlash]

Getting to see Blanton instead of Hamels is probably a good thing, although Blanton seems like a guy who we'd have trouble hitting. As long as we don't get swept I'll consider this a successful road trip.

Let's raise our expectations a tad, shall we? I'm calling 2 of 3 from the Phils

 

I don't think it's unreasonable to expect just one from this series. The Phillies have won 8 in a row, 12 out of their last 13, and are playing in their home ballpark. I'd expect them to take two out of three against any team in the league right now. If the Cubs can take two I'd be very happy, but I don't think only taking one says anything poorly about the team in this case. Getting swept however would be a disappointment and would be giving back the unexpected extra win the team picked up against the Nationals.

 

So the Phills are due to lose then. 8-) Unless they go on colorado hot streak they will lose a couple here and there.

 

Considering the Cubs are throwing Lilly/ Harden, especially since it is at night/Zambrano against the scary three of Lopez/Blanton and Moyer, I think there is a chance the Cubs could the Phillies a reason to be frustrated. Note this: The Phillies are in the midst of playing 18 games in 18 days (excluding a rain-out against the Marlins). So if the Cubs can get to the Phillies pen early and often, the Cubs have a good chance at doing some damage.

[illiniguy]

Let's put some real pressure on the the Cards and get 2 of 3 in Philly.

[jersey cubs fan]

The Phillies are in the midst of playing 18 games in 18 days (excluding a rain-out against the Marlins). So if the Cubs can get to the Phillies pen early and often, the Cubs have a good chance at doing some damage.

 

The fact that they play San Fran next Friday has no baring on this game or series. Philly has played just three games in the past four days. They used 4 relievers yesterday but none of them pitched as much as 1 full innings, and none of them pitched the day before. Sure it's always nice to get to a pen early and often, but it's not anymore of an advantage this week than normal.

[jb10194]

Lineup

 

Fukudome

Theriot

Lee

Ramirez

Hoffpauir

Soriano

Fontenot

Hill

Lilly

[DiamondMind]

Anyone else kind of nervous about this series? I want to keep the momentum going so bad..

[DiamondMind]

fukudome cf

theriot ss

lee 1b

ramirez 3b

hoffpauir rf

soriano lf

fontenot 2b

hill c

lilly p

 

rollins ss

victorino cf

utley 2b

howard 1b

ibanez lf

werth rf

feliz 3b

ruiz c

lopez p

 

Ted Lilly - 9-6/3.18/101K/24BB/1.11WHIP

Rodrigo Lopez - 1-0/3.18/8K/2BB/1.15WHIP

[carolinacubbie]

Lineup

 

Fukudome

Theriot

Lee

Ramirez

Hoffpauir

Soriano

Fontenot

Hill

Lilly

 

No Bradley again. I like it.

[PrimeTime]

I was one of those who wanted Ibanez in the offseason, But who knows if he would be be the same player as now since many players come here,especially in RF and seem to falter..

[DiamondMind]

Man, I didn't even realize Bradley wasn't in there again. I noticed first there was no Fox. I guess that says it all about Bradley these days.

[Rusch33]

Man, I didn't even realize Bradley wasn't in there again. I noticed first there was no Fox. I guess that says it all about Bradley these days.

 

Working with Lou today on his Left Handed Batting.

[Sammy Sofa]

Man, I didn't even realize Bradley wasn't in there again. I noticed first there was no Fox. I guess that says it all about Bradley these days.

 

Working with Lou today on his Left Handed Batting.

 

God forbid they just bat him RH given how much better he's hit from that side this year.

[DiamondMind]

Man, I didn't even realize Bradley wasn't in there again. I noticed first there was no Fox. I guess that says it all about Bradley these days.

 

Working with Lou today on his Left Handed Batting.

 

God forbid they just bat him RH given how much better he's hit from that side this year.

 

Honestly man, I think Bradley could stand up there sideways at this point and it wouldn't help him. He needs some (extended) time in the cages or something.

[DiamondMind]

on bradley...

After proclaiming he was 'back' and would be hitting for the remainder of the year, Milton Bradley continued to struggle at the plate over the weekend ... and now finds himself with a new hitting coach, Lou Piniella. Piniella will work with Bradley over the next few games.

 

on rollins...

The Phillies are 'on fire' right now. They have won their last eight games and 12 of 13. The eight-game winning streak is the Phillies' longest run since April 30 - May 9, 2006 in which they won nine in a row. One of the reasons is Jimmy Rollins. The Phillies leadoff hitter is 23-for-58 over the last 14 games (.397 average) with eight doubles, a home run, five stolen bases, 10 walks and eight RBI. The Phillies do not have a weak spot in their lineup but cooling off Rollins would be a good first step to winning the series.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Greetings one and all from beautiful Nacogdoches, TX !!

 

 

Did the truck break down?

[Butterscup1679666578]

four seconds in, ESPN plugging our "title drought"

[E.J.]

Can't say I feel all that confident about this series.

[otis89]

four seconds in, ESPN plugging our "title drought"

 

The Phillies have been just as successful as the Cubs if you compare World Series Championships. Both teams were charter members of the National League, and both teams have won exactly 2 World Series.