9/30 - Houston (Pettite) vs. Cubs (ZAMBRANO) 7:05 CDT; WCIU

[Modzilla]

With Modzilla's perfect 1-0 record in game threads on the line, the Cubs send up RHP Carlos Zambrano (14-6, 3.33 ERA). The Astros counter with LHP Andy Pettite (17-9, 2.42 ERA). Tune in for your last chance to see Z this year!

 

http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/images/gameday/mugshots/407296.jpg vs. http://chicago.cubs.mlb.com/images/gameday/mugshots/120485.jpg

 

A couple of notes:

 

- Houston's wild card lead is now 2 games over Philadelphia.

- If Modzilla were a baseball player, he would be Carlos Zambrano.

[Mark Priors Calves]

Mark Prior's Calves likes how Modzilla speaks of himself in the third person and Mark Prior's Calves likes Elaine.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

Since Z is pitching, I might watch this one.

 

Actually, I had hoped to go to Houston to see these last games, but alas, the wife's class reunion is this weekend so I was unable to make the trip.

[gflore34]

If someone told me in March that the Cubs, going into the last weekend of the season, would have a combined record of 18-11 vs. the Astros and Cardinals in addition to a winning road record - I'd thought the Cubs were playoff bound.

[Bruce Miles]

Lineups:

 

Theriot, 2B

Perez, SS

Lee, 1B

Garciaparra, 3B

Murton, LF

Burnitz, RF

Barrett, C

Patterson, CF

Zambrano, P

 

Biggio, 2B

Taveras, CF

Ensberg, 3B

Berkman, LF

Lamb, 1B

lane, RF

Everett, SS

Ausmus, C

Pettitte, P

[UK1679666180]

Taveras to me is the best defensive OF'er in the NL this year, but his offense has quite a bit to go.

[rawaction]

Taveras to me is the best defensive OF'er in the NL this year, but his offense has quite a bit to go.

 

The little I've seen of Taveras has been very good in CF. I'll even go on record and say......um......um....Neifi Perez has been the best defensive SS in the NL (apologies to Vizquel, but Neifi has slightly more range at this point).

[Flames24Rulz]

Lineups:

 

Theriot, 2B

Perez, SS

Lee, 1B

Garciaparra, 3B

Murton, LF

Burnitz, RF

Barrett, C

Patterson, CF

Zambrano, P

 

Biggio, 2B

Taveras, CF

Ensberg, 3B

Berkman, LF

Lamb, 1B

lane, RF

Everett, SS

Ausmus, C

Pettitte, P

 

thanks Bruce :) let's hope we win and the Phillies win.

[vance_the_cubs_fan]

With the riot playing, I might have to check in.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

Taveras to me is the best defensive OF'er in the NL this year, but his offense has quite a bit to go.

 

The little I've seen of Taveras has been very good in CF. I'll even go on record and say......um......um....Neifi Perez has been the best defensive SS in the NL (apologies to Vizquel, but Neifi has slightly more range at this point).

 

Omar and Jack Wilson are the only ones in the ballpark.

[UK1679666180]

I think you'll see similar numbers from Pie as Tavares, you might see more pop from Pie with a lower avg., but if the Cubs bring up Pie he'll have a similar or less BB/K ratio Tavares.

[lowest]

With the riot playing, I might have to check in.

 

yeah i wasnt gonna watch at all if he wasnt there, but now i guess ill just have to watch it on mute so i dont have to subject myself to the supreme idiots on FSSW.

[Fred Hornkohl]

Worthless stats of the day.....

 

CUBS are 12-12 on Fridays

CUBS are 8-5 vs. Houston

CUBS are 37-38 at night.

CUBS are 40-38 on the road.

CUBS are 39-37 when they've won the previous game.... 37-44 after a loss

CUBS are 25-13 when Derrek Lee hits at least 1 HR.... 53-68 when he doesn't

CUBS are 34-19 when their pitchers' get at least 1 hit.... 44-62 when they don't

CUBS are 21-34 when the temperature is in the 70's

CUBS are 61-29 when they get a quality start,... 17-52 when they don't

CUBS are 49-19 when they score first,.... 29-62 when they don't

CUBS are 26-7 when they score in the first inning,... 52-74 when they don't

CUBS are 62-40 when they don't give up any runs in the 1st inning.... 16-41 when they do

 

CUBS are 19-13 when Zambrano starts

Zambrano is 21 of 32 in quality starts

Zambrano's ERA pitching to Barrett is 3.38.... pitching to Blanco 3.47

CUBS score 4.36 R/G overall.... 4.81 R/G when Zambrano pitches

CUBS hit 1.21 HR/G overall.... 1.00 HR/G when Zambrano pitches

 

CUBS' offensive support of Zambrano.....

 

04/04 - 09/29      AB    R    H   2b   3b   HR   TB  RBI   BB   SO     BA    OBP    SLG    OPS
CUBS w/Zambrano  1126  154  317   73    9   32  504  149   82  185  0.282  0.334  0.448  0.781
CUBS overall     5479  694 1477  317   23  193 2419  665  416  898  0.270  0.325  0.442  0.766

 

Zambrano's last five starts (3-1) .....

 

Zambrano             IP    H    R   ER   BB    K   HR    PC  BB/9   K/9  HR/9  WHIP   ERA
09/24 vs. Houst     6.3    9    6    6    1    4    2    94  1.42  5.68  2.84  1.58  8.53
09/18 vs. St. L     9.0   10    4    2    1    1    1   125  1.00  1.00  1.00  1.22  2.00
09/13 vs. Cincy     6.0    3    3    3    3    9    2   116  4.50 13.50  3.00  1.00  4.50
09/08 vs. S.F.      7.0    6    3    3    3    6    1   125  3.86  7.71  1.29  1.29  3.86
09/03 vs. Pitts     7.7    5    5    5    4    9    0   117  4.70 10.57  0.00  1.17  5.87

5 game totals      36.0   33   21   19   12   29    6   577  3.00  7.25  1.50  1.25  4.75

 

Zambrano's other previous start vs. Houston.....

 

Zambrano             IP    H    R   ER   BB    K   HR    PC  BB/9   K/9  HR/9  WHIP   ERA
08/17 vs. Houst     8.3    3    2    1    3   10    0   116  3.24 10.80  0.00  0.72  1.08

 

Zambrano's D/N & H/R splits.....

 

Zambrano             IP    H    R   ER   BB    K   HR    PC  BB/9   K/9  HR/9  WHIP   ERA
Home              113.7   86   38   35   39   93   11  1774  3.09  7.36  0.87  1.10  2.77
Road              102.7   80   49   45   44  101    9  1674  3.86  8.85  0.79  1.21  3.94

Day               106.3   85   35   32   42   87    8  1654  3.55  7.36  0.68  1.19  2.71
Nite              110.0   81   52   48   41  107   12  1794  3.35  8.75  0.98  1.11  3.93

season totals     216.3  166   87   80   83  194   20  3448  3.45  8.07  0.83  1.15  3.33

 

CUBS' season series vs. Houston.....

 

Gm#    Date       Opponent         Score  Starter
22  Fri 04/29  @ Houston       N   3- 2  Maddux        
23  Sat 04/30  @ Houston       N   5- 7  Wood        
24  Sun 05/01  @ Houston           3- 9  Prior        
42  Mon 05/23    Houston       N   4- 1  Rusch        
43  Tue 05/24    Houston       N   4- 2  Mitre        
44  Wed 05/25    Houston       N   1- 5  Maddux        
119  Mon 08/15  @ Houston       N   4-12  Rusch        
120  Tue 08/16  @ Houston       N   4- 1  Maddux        
121  Wed 08/17  @ Houston       N   4- 2  Zambrano      
154  Fri 09/23    Houston           5- 4  Rusch        
155  Sat 09/24    Houston           3- 8  Zambrano      
156  Sun 09/25    Houston           3- 2  Williams      
159  Thu 09/29  @ Houston       N   3- 2  Rusch        
160  Fri 09/30  @ Houston       N    -    Zambrano      
161  Sat 10/01  @ Houston            -    Williams      
162  Sun 10/02  @ Houston            -    Maddux        

 

CUBS' hitters vs. Houston.....

 

CUBS               AB    R    H   2B   3B   HR   TB  RBI   BB   SO     BA    OBP    SLG    OPS
Dubois             11    2    5    2    0    1   10    2    0    4  0.455  0.455  0.909  1.364
Garciaparra        24    3   11    0    0    2   17    5    2    2  0.458  0.500  0.708  1.208
Lee                41   10   13    3    0    3   25    7   11    8  0.317  0.453  0.610  1.063
Cedeno              2    0    1    0    0    0    1    0    0    1  0.500  0.500  0.500  1.000
Murton             19    2    5    0    0    2   11    2    3    3  0.263  0.364  0.579  0.943
Walker             12    1    4    0    0    1    7    1    0    1  0.333  0.333  0.583  0.917
Hollandsworth      14    0    4    2    0    0    6    2    1    1  0.286  0.333  0.429  0.762
Burnitz            46    7   10    2    0    3   21   10    2    8  0.217  0.260  0.457  0.717
Ramirez            35    3    7    4    0    1   14    3    0    5  0.200  0.200  0.400  0.600
Patterson          39    4    8    0    1    1   13    3    2   11  0.205  0.238  0.333  0.571
Hairston           21    2    4    1    0    0    5    0    4    4  0.190  0.320  0.238  0.558
McClain             1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    1    0  0.000  0.500  0.000  0.500
Barrett            42    3   10    1    0    0   11    4    0    7  0.238  0.238  0.262  0.500
Perez              47    4   10    1    0    0   11    1    1    4  0.213  0.245  0.234  0.479
Macias             19    2    3    0    0    0    3    0    2    3  0.158  0.238  0.158  0.396
Wilson              2    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    1    0  0.000  0.333  0.000  0.333
Blanco              3    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    1    1  0.000  0.250  0.000  0.250
Lawton              9    1    1    0    0    0    1    0    0    3  0.111  0.111  0.111  0.222
Grieve              2    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    1  0.000  0.000  0.000  0.000
Theriot             1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0  0.000  0.000  0.000  0.000
Soto                1    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0    0  0.000  0.000  0.000  0.000

vs. Houst         419   46  100   17    1   15  164   42   31   75  0.239  0.292  0.391  0.684

overall          5479  695 1476  308   23  189 2397  667  414  888  0.269  0.324  0.437  0.762

 

CUBS' pitchers vs. Houston......

 

CUBS                 IP    H    R   ER   BB    K   HR    PC  BB/9   K/9  HR/9  WHIP   ERA
Dempster            6.7    3    0    0    3    7    0   100  4.05  9.45  0.00  0.90  0.00
Novoa               2.3    1    0    0    1    3    0    34  3.86 11.57  0.00  0.86  0.00
Hawkins             2.0    0    0    0    0    1    0    16  0.00  4.50  0.00  0.00  0.00
Remlinger           1.0    1    0    0    0    1    0    10  0.00  9.00  0.00  1.00  0.00
Mitre               7.0    5    2    2    1    5    0   108  1.29  6.43  0.00  0.86  2.57
Williams            7.0    4    2    2    6    3    0   108  7.71  3.86  0.00  1.43  2.57
Ohman               3.3    2    1    1    4    3    0    84 10.80  8.10  0.00  1.80  2.70
Wuertz              9.0    6    3    3    7   10    0   158  7.00 10.00  0.00  1.44  3.00
Maddux             20.7   18    8    8    3   12    2   251  1.31  5.23  0.87  1.02  3.48
Rusch              25.3   35   13   12    7   20    4   447  2.49  7.11  1.42  1.66  4.26
Zambrano           14.7   12    8    7    4   14    2   210  2.45  8.59  1.23  1.09  4.30
Bartosh             2.0    2    1    1    1    4    0    37  4.50 18.00  0.00  1.50  4.50
Williamson          1.3    2    1    1    1    1    1    24  6.75  6.75  6.75  2.25  6.75
Wood                4.0    4    3    3    2    8    0    63  4.50 18.00  0.00  1.50  6.75
Prior               5.0    7    8    8    3    7    2   107  5.40 12.60  3.60  2.00 14.40
Wellemeyer          2.3    5    7    7    4    5    2    66 15.43 19.29  7.71  3.86 27.00

vs. Houst         113.7  107   57   55   47  104   13  1823  3.72  8.23  1.03  1.35  4.35

overall          1414.3 1334  702  661  567 1237  182 23299  3.61  7.87  1.16  1.34  4.21

 

Go CUBS !!

[Fred Hornkohl]

TOP OF THE FIRST INNING

 

Theriot grounded out to third, 5-3

Perez flied out to right field

Lee struck out (called)

 

0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 men left on base

 

           1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9    R H E
CUBS       0                    0 0 0 
Houston    .                    0 0 0 

[ToupeeOnFire]

I think you'll see similar numbers from Pie as Tavares, you might see more pop from Pie with a lower avg., but if the Cubs bring up Pie he'll have a similar or less BB/K ratio Tavares.

 

You are probably right. Taveras is a scrub, but he is a scrub with speed, thus enabling him to keep his batting average at respectable levels through pure fleet of foot. Pie, to me, seems a bit too much like Corey Patterson for my own liking -- too many strikeouts and not enough walks -- but if he can make enough contact (and that's a big if), there is no reason why he couldn't put up similar numbers to Taveras and, with enough power, be even better.

 

That said, I am not too crazy about the Pie for center project in '06.

[Fred Hornkohl]

BOTTOM OF THE FIRST INNING

 

Biggio struck out swinging

Taveras grounded out to second, 4-3

Ensberg struck out swinging

 

0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 men left on base

 

           1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9    R H E
CUBS       0                    0 0 0 
Houston    0                    0 0 0 

 

pitcher     IP  H  R ER BB  K HR PIT
Zambrano   1.0  0  0  0  0  2  0  19 

[ToupeeOnFire]

Nice first for Zambrano.

[Fred Hornkohl]

CUBS are 62-40 when they don't give up any runs in the 1st inning.... 16-41 when they do

 

 

Go CUBS !!

[Fred Hornkohl]

TOP OF THE SECOND INNING

 

Garciaparra flied out to right field

Murton grounded out to short, 6-3

Burnitz grounded out to the pitcher, 1-3

 

0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 men left on base

 

           1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9    R H E
CUBS       0 0                  0 0 0 
Houston    0                    0 0 0 

[lowest]

houston up 1-0....

[ToupeeOnFire]

Mike [expletive] Lamb.

[Fred Hornkohl]

BOTTOM OF THE SECOND INNING

 

Berkman struck out swinging

Lamb homered to left field

Lane flied out to left field

Everett struck out swinging

 

1 runs, 1 hits, 0 errors, 0 men left on base

 

           1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9    R H E
CUBS       0 0                  0 0 0 
Houston    0 1                  1 1 0 

 

Home runs: Houston: Lamb (12)

 

pitcher     IP  H  R ER BB  K HR PIT
Zambrano   2.0  1  1  1  0  4  1  38 

[Fred Hornkohl]

CUBS are 49-19 when they score first,.... 29-62 when they don't

 

 

Go CUBS !!

[ToupeeOnFire]

Shock of shocks (or not)...Z gets the first Cub hit.

[otis89]

You know your team is horrible offensively when your pitcher gets the first hit of the game for your team. :roll: