4/11 Cubs (Dempster) @ Astros (Figueroa) 7:05 pm CSN+

[Andy]

So today the Cubs send their Answer Man

 

http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/ept_sports_mlb_experts__12/ept_sports_mlb_experts-782275068-1221758343.jpg?ymiOYrAD8wwIFnT1

 

to the mound to try and stop this ridiculous nonsense we call 'losing'. Lucky for the Cubs, the elixir served them in aid of this quest is one that's proven to be very effective: the Houston Astros.

 

So Geovany Soto returns to the scene of his inside the park homer, and if he wants to revisit that night, he will have to do it against one Nelson Figueroa, who some believe will have the light shining upon him due to the fact he's facing the Cubs.

 

http://ohmurph.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/nelson-figueroa.jpg

 

Apropos of nothing:

 

http://www.cubby-blue.com/.a/6a00d83451fe4669e2013487524ff0970c-800wi

 

Go Cubs! Put the Astros in the

 

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e67/ndistops/Dumpster.jpg

[Omar]

Cubs Vs. Figueroa

                   PA AB  H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO   BA  OBP   SLG   OPS SH SF IBB HBP GDP missG
Aramis Ramirez     21 19  6  1  0  2   4  2  4 .316 .381  .684 1.065  0  0   0   0         0
Kosuke Fukudome    12  9  5  1  0  0   0  3  3 .556 .667  .667 1.333  0  0   0   0         0
Blake DeWitt        9  8  3  0  0  1   4  1  1 .375 .444  .750 1.194  0  0   0   0         0
Koyie Hill          9  8  0  0  0  0   0  1  3 .000 .111  .000  .111  0  0   1   0         0
Marlon Byrd         8  8  2  0  0  0   1  0  3 .250 .250  .250  .500  0  0   0   0         0
Jeff Baker          6  5  2  0  0  0   0  1  2 .400 .500  .400  .900  0  0   0   0         0
Darwin Barney       5  5  2  1  0  0   0  0  0 .400 .400  .600 1.000  0  0   0   0         0
Ryan Dempster       5  4  1  0  0  0   0  0  2 .250 .250  .250  .500  1  0   0   0         0
Alfonso Soriano     5  5  2  0  0  0   0  0  2 .400 .400  .400  .800  0  0   0   0         0
Geovany Soto        5  5  0  0  0  0   0  0  2 .000 .000  .000  .000  0  0   0   0         1
Carlos Zambrano     5  5  1  1  0  0   0  0  3 .200 .200  .400  .600  0  0   0   0         0
Tyler Colvin        4  4  3  0  2  0   2  0  0 .750 .750 1.750 2.500  0  0   0   0         0
Reed Johnson        3  3  1  0  0  0   2  0  1 .333 .333  .333  .667  0  0   0   0         0
Kerry Wood          2  2  1  0  0  0   0  0  0 .500 .500  .500 1.000  0  0   0   0         0
Starlin Castro      1  1  0  0  0  0   0  0  0 .000 .000  .000  .000  0  0   0   0         0
Total             100 91 29  4  2  3  13  8 26 .319 .374  .505  .879  1  0   1   0         1

Expect DeWitt to start tonight.

 

Astros Vs. Dempster

                     PA  AB  H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO    BA   OBP   SLG   OPS SH SF IBB HBP GDP missG
Carlos Lee           39  36 13  3  0  2   7  1  4  .361  .359  .611  .970  0  2   0   0         2
Hunter Pence         35  34 10  1  0  2   6  1  6  .294  .314  .500  .814  0  0   0   0         1
Michael Bourn        27  22  8  1  0  0   1  5  3  .364  .481  .409  .891  0  0   0   0         0
Bill Hall            18  18  3  0  0  0   0  0  7  .167  .167  .167  .333  0  0   0   0         1
Humberto Quintero    14  13  3  0  0  1   3  1  4  .231  .286  .462  .747  0  0   0   0         0
Chris Johnson         6   6  3  0  0  1   2  0  0  .500  .500 1.000 1.500  0  0   0   0         1
J.R. Towles           6   5  0  0  0  0   0  1  2  .000  .167  .000  .167  0  0   0   0         0
Nelson Figueroa       4   2  1  0  0  0   0  0  1  .500  .500  .500 1.000  2  0   0   0         0
Wandy Rodriguez       4   4  0  0  0  0   0  0  1  .000  .000  .000  .000  0  0   0   0         0
Angel Sanchez         4   3  1  1  0  0   1  0  0  .333  .500  .667 1.167  0  0   0   1         0
Brett Wallace         3   3  1  0  1  0   0  0  2  .333  .333 1.000 1.333  0  0   0   0         0
Joe Inglett           2   2  2  0  1  0   0  0  0 1.000 1.000 2.000 3.000  0  0   0   0         0
Jason Michaels        1   1  0  0  0  0   0  0  0  .000  .000  .000  .000  0  0   0   0         0
Total               163 149 45  6  2  6  20  9 30  .302  .342  .490  .832  2  2   0   1         5

[Little Slide Rooter]

We should win this game and series, but then again, we might not. And Drayton McClain already has put the Astros in the dumpster.

[Fred Hornkohl]

Hmmmm..... I'm about 3 miles from Minute Maid Park right now. Wonder where I'll be at 1900 ???

[haubrich91]

Alright, Dempster. You're facing another bad team. Don't suck.

[Guancous]

You better win, Cubs. You cost me a weekend bet against a Brewers fan. Now I have to watch From Justin to Kelly, that execrable American Idol movie.

[javy knows my name]

You better win, Cubs. You cost me a weekend bet against a Brewers fan. Now I have to watch From Justin to Kelly, that execrable American Idol movie.

 

Who's gonna be there to make sure you watch it?

[Little Slide Rooter]

You better win, Cubs. You cost me a weekend bet against a Brewers fan. Now I have to watch From Justin to Kelly, that execrable American Idol movie.

yes...lost a bet.

[Guest]

Hmmmm..... I'm about 3 miles from Minute Maid Park right now. Wonder where I'll be at 1900 ???

 

Hopefully in Minute Maid Park.

 

Unless you don't want to go to the game, of course.

[ctcf]

Hmmmm..... I'm about 3 miles from Minute Maid Park right now. Wonder where I'll be at 1900 ???

 

Hopefully in Minute Maid Park.

 

Unless you don't want to go to the game, of course.

 

He might have meant where he was in 1900 in which case I believe the answer is high school.

[JeffH]

Tonight's game is an absolute must win.

 

The next two games are definite losses based on the starting pitching matchups.

[Sammy Sofa]

LULZ

[Guest]

Tonight's game is an absolute must win.

 

The next two games are definite losses based on the starting pitching matchups.

 

In the same way that the Cubs were supposed to have no chance to beat Gallardo yesterday?

[Sammy Sofa]

Yes, the team with essentially the 5th best offense in the NL is automatically doomed to be shut down 2 of the next 3 games.

[Little Slide Rooter]

Tonight's game is an absolute must win.

 

The next two games are definite losses based on the starting pitching matchups.

 

In the same way that the Cubs were supposed to have no chance to beat Gallardo yesterday?

If you consider any games vs the Astros to be definite losses, you may as well give up on this team here and now and find some other way to spend your spring and summer. Not sure who the Astros have pitching those 2 games, I'm assuming Wandy is one, but there isn't a single pitcher on that God forsaken team that scares me no matter who we send against them. Come on, look at that offense.

Edited April 11, 2011 by Little Slide Rooter

[ctcf]

Yes, the team with essentially the 5th best offense in the NL is automatically doomed to be shut down 2 of the next 3 games.

 

If we can keep women away from Myers for the next 48 hours, the Cubs should be fine.

[Flames24Rulz]

Tonight's game is an absolute must win.

 

The next two games are definite losses based on the starting pitching matchups.

 

In the same way that the Cubs were supposed to have no chance to beat Gallardo yesterday?

 

Nothing like a must-win game on April 11th!

[NCCubFan]

Tonight's game is an absolute must win.

Yeah. Lose a game on April 11, season over.

[javy knows my name]

If we lose tonight, it is a GUARANTEE that we are SWEPT by the Astros.

[ctcf]

If they lose tonight, it's a GUARANTEE that the season is over.

[TruffleShuffle]

apparently barney is second in the lineup and soto is eighth? is lou back?

[Cubs Fan Dan]

apparently barney is second in the lineup and soto is eighth? is lou back?

 

Honestly, until Soto starts hitting I could care less, he has killed the Cubs in many RBI situations this year so far. If I see him foul out with a runner in scoring position and less than 2 outs again I may go into an alcoholic rage.

[wekim81]

ABSOLUTE MUST WIN TONIGHT - WE LOSE TONIGHT WE'RE EFFED - NO WAY WE CAN SCORE ON WANDY RODRIGUEZ.

 

Lineup:

Castro 6

Barney 4

Byrd's the Word 8

Ramirez 5

Pena 3

Soriano 7

TC21 9

Soto 2

Demp 1

 

Lets get a win baby. Interesting to see Soto down in the 8 spot

[TruffleShuffle]

apparently barney is second in the lineup and soto is eighth? is lou back?

 

Honestly, until Soto starts hitting I could care less, he has killed the Cubs in many RBI situations this year so far. If I see him foul out with a runner in scoring position and less than 2 outs again I may go into an alcoholic rage.

 

he's played 8 games and his babip is around .200, i think we can assume that he will hit better than darwin [expletive] barney in the future.

[otis89]

I realize most of the last few posts have been overflowing with sarcasm, but the Cubs have actually hit Wandy pretty well in the past.