gflore34

It's the same MO for Rodriguez as it was for Moehler last night away, away, away the only difference being Rodriguez' stuff is slower.

There was the token fb, crappy sliders to follow

Nor do I, he's doing it with smoke and mirrors...

The Astros honestly don't really scare me at Wrigley like they do at MMP. That park does wonders for them. Brian Moehler has a 4.63 ERA on the road with a 1.41 WHIP, while he has a 3.99 ERA at home Wandy meanwhile still has big H/R splits. 3.31 ERA at home and 4.03 WHIP on the road. Last year he had a 2.97 ERA at home and a 6.37 ERA on the road, so while I guess having a .62 ERA difference between H/R is not a lot, he has been known to pitch less effectively on the road in his career. Also, the Astros hit nearly 100 points better (OPS) at home than on the road. They are 11th in the league in home OPS at .784, while they are 25th in the league in road OPS at .689 I'm thinking two of three is definitely possible, looking over the season series the 4 of the 5 Astros' victories are by 2 runs or less - I attribute most of that to luck. This Astros' staff is terrible heck, Marquis would be a 3 for that staff.

Good day to give the double play king a rest and put Ward at 1st? I thinks that's a great idea also, with someone such as Theriot or Soriano on 1B, Lee up and less than two outs when is Lou going to start hitting and running? After Lee grounds in 40 DP's?

These Cardinals somewhat remind of the 1977 Cubs that team, which no expected much of, was 25 games over .500 and up by 8.5 in the NL East at one point during season. In fact as late as August 3rd of that year they were 62-43 and up by 1.5 yet, they finished 81-81. Beyond Bruce Sutter and Willie Hernandez they, like the Cardinals, were terrible in the bullpen eventually that caught up with them, I believe a similar fate awaits the 2008 Cardinals.

Today was a blah loss, oh well. I suspect the Cubs will take the next two very comfortably. That's what I was thinking, if the Pirates were going to win, today (technically, yesterday here) was their best shot, they don't have much of chance vs Lilly and Zambrano.

In the past I've made of fun of Fielder with fat ass references but, I saw him do something yesterday that made me think he's probably a pretty cool guy. Ramirez was running past him on the way to one of his doubles, as he was doing so Fielder gave him a little tap - effectively saying good job of hitting there Aram.

I was hoping for a split, thought about 3 of 4 for second but, knew that was a pipe dream yet, here we are!! While this has been fantastic and we may look back at this series as one in which put a strangle hold on the Central, I believe the key game to the season is going to turn out to be that last game of the Marlins series.

Is there not a better way to break up the shut out?

I gotta think Howry' nearing a DFA, most especially if Gaudin and Samardzija prove to be effective.

Didn't the Astros go into Tampa Bay and take two of three from the hot, "unbeatable" Rays after they had swept the Cubs?

Karma will play it's hand in the Brewers season. It wouldn't surprise me that the Cubs go into Wrigley North in Milwaukee and sweep the Brewers. I'm not saying it's likely, but it wouldn't surprise me. What's the old line? You're never as good as look when things are going well nor as bad as you look when things are going South? The Brewers are on a peak, no doubt, however, there will be a valley or two in their future.

Despite Soriano being on the DL and a boatload of road games the Cubs are still in first place. Additionally, we a know baseball is game of peaks and valleys, ebb and flow, cycles. The current valley the Cubs are in is going to find the Brewers hopefully, it'll find them in September.

Hoffs sure to go down when Soriano comes up. You're probably correct, well, at least he can get Ramirez and Soto a day off.

If Soriano returns to the lineup tomorrow perhaps, Lou could go with DeRosa at 3B, Hoffpauir at 1B and Blanco catching.

I think its time to sit Ramirez and Soto for game or two.

Gotta pin that one on Lou, he knows Lee is a DP machine, 2-0 count and the runner' not on the move?

If the Cubs don't get their collective heads out of their asses on the road - there won't be any playoffs. I can somewhat accept losing to a washed-up Randy Johnson but, two of three to the Assblows - no?

The Cubs are 4.5 up and they're going to bury the Cards no matter how many more HR's Ankiel and Ludwick have than other Cub and Lohse' unexpected success.

Then they counter with Lincecum. I think they'll do to Linecum what they're doing to Cain today - run up the PC and beat the bullpen.

Get used to watching the opposing hitters look helpless Giants because tomorrow' your turn - Harden 2-0, .084 ERA, 5 H in 21.1 IP lifetime vs. the Giants.

Please, put down the kool aid and back away slowly. Kool-Aid? You're telling me you don't think that Barry Bonds bat could be useful to a major league team? Again, we are talking about Barry freaking Bonds for the major league minimum. I'd advocate (especially with Edmonds starting to cool and probably in need of more rest) putting him in left field, Soriano in right, and Fukudome in center. Soriano could handle right, and Fukudome is an excellent enough fielder to make up for Barry's lack of range. But he'd sign for the minimum. This could be as little as upgrading from Daryl Ward to Barry freaking Bonds for your go to pinch hitter. Collusion and nothing less. He put up a 1.000 OPS last year. .480 on base percentage. Obviously there might be a little rust. You may only get a .250/.400/.500 line out of him. Um, sign me up please still. Especially for next to nothing. He's only a spectacle because the media won't let it drop. Their job is to generate traffic or sell papers. But in the grand context of things he's a guy facing a perjury charge in a trial that won't happen until next spring training. Not our problem, we have every right to sign any available player who could help us. If I can come to grips with Jim Edmonds potentially being on the World Series winning Cubs team, I can come to grips with anyone. How the hell did so many of us become so high and mighty? We are talking about signing someone to play professional baseball. Not like we're talking about making a convict President. Though our President should be a convict. But that's another thread. :D Seconded, not to mention, such a move could be face saving for Bonds, in addition to giving him a chance at a WS ring - that's all that's left for him to accomplish - collusion be damned. I don't want to see the Tampon Bay Rays or any other recent expansion team make to their first (unless it's against the Cubs this year) or another WS before the Cubs.

2 out 3 at bad, I'll be satisfied with the same against the Giants. Does anyone else despise Jerry Hairston Jr. as I do? All he did as a Cub was that foot tapping nonsense while being an automatic out, goes to Reds and lights it up.

Given Marquis is not going to be sent to the bullpen why not give Marshall a few starts in Iowa while Hendry tries to move Marquis?