CubFanPhilly

Yeah, but then in that case LaRussa and the Cardinals are thinking... why didn't the ump wait one more pitch to put on the tarps? Duncan could've tied it up on that next pitch. The change in the rule only protects the visting team when they've tied the game or taken the lead in the top of an inniing. Like it or not, that's the rule. But this game will be finished - it's a moot point.

If the rain continues it's official and the Cubs win. 4.12 SUSPENDED GAMES. (a) A game shall become a suspended game that must be completed at a future date if the game is terminated for any of the following reasons: (1) A curfew imposed by law; (2) A time limit permissible under league rules; (3) Light failure or malfunction of a mechanical field device under control of the home club. (Mechanical field device shall include automatic tarpaulin or water removal equipment); (4) Darkness, when a law prevents the lights from being turned on; (5) Weather, if a regulation game is called while an inning is in progress and before the inning is completed, and the visiting team has scored one or more runs to take the lead, and the home team has not retaken the lead; or (6) It is a regulation game that is called with the score tied. National Association Leagues may also adopt the following rules for suspended games. (If adopted by a National Association League, Rule 4.10(e) would not apply to their games.): (7) The game has not become a regulation game (41/2 innings with the home team ahead, or 5 innings with the visiting club ahead or tied). (8) If a game is suspended before it becomes a regulation game, and is continued prior to another regularly scheduled game, the regularly scheduled game with be limited to seven innings. (9) If a game is suspended after it is a regulation game, and is continued prior to another regularly scheduled game, the regularly scheduled game will be a nine inning game.

OK let's get those runs back. I'd like to see Marshall go deep in this one.

http://www.weather.com/outlook/events/sports/map/60610?from=mapsubnav&ref=/outlook/events/sports/map/interactive/60610&mapdest=/maps/local/local/us_close_ord_ultra_ord_metro_ord/1b/dopplerradar300mile_large.html They're getting this one in. No rain in western Illinois.

Awesome!

The radar picture doesn't look too good either. I wouldn't be surprised to see this one rescheduled. I think they'll get it in. There's one more narrow band of heavier stuff in the western burbs. Most of the bad stuff is north of the park.

I think it's going to be a long one today. My guess is rain from about 1:40 to 2:40. Game will start around 3:20. With another 45 min. delay around the 3rd inning. But it's just a guess...

I think this the most troubling aspect of the signing. It's high for an ace pitcher across the board. But is it really a decline? Zambrano's BB/9: 5.2, 4.0, 3.5, 3.5, 4.8, 4.1 Any comparison to Pedro breaks down when you compare BB/9: Martinez at the same ages: 4.8, 2.8, 3.1, 2.9, 2.5, 2.6

Of course the poster boy for what can go wrong with long-term big money pitcher deals: 8 years / $121 mil. Pre-Contract ERA+ 107, 115, 107, 104, 121, 150, 139 Contract ERA+ 96, 80, 108, 101, 126, DNP, DNP, ??? Mike Hampton says "Hi".

Pedro's a decent comparison. I hope Z's contract works out so well: Martinez Contract from 1998-2002. Age 26-30. Pre-contract IP: 910 Pre-contract ERA+ 151, 123, 120, 117, 221, 160 Over the contract: 160, 245, 285, 189, 196, 212. Zambrano Pre-contract IP: ~1150 by the end of this year. Pre-contract ERA+ 110, 136, 165, 131, 136, 117

- Pedro was lights out over his six year deal 1998-2002: 160, 245, 285, 189, 196, 212. -Randy Johnson was very good over a 4-year plus exercised option contract from 1999-2003: 178, 177, 184, 190, 100. - Clemens never signed a 5 year deal, but any team that had signed him to a 5-year contract would've done just fine (twice over in his career). -Likewise for Schilling. -Mussina was solid (but not "Ace" material) over his six year deal 2001-2006: 148, 108, 98, 101, 125. Though I agree, these are the exceptions.

Compared to the pitching market? Hardly. Z would have gotten 7 years, 130 million+ out there. Props to BleacherBadger for bringing us this news last night! Probably true which makes the market completely out of whack. No A-Rod now fellas Not impossible to still sign A-Rod. They'll have $105 mil. or so committed for '08 with arguably only a catcher and an upgraded bat to sign. $90 mil. committed for '09.

The west edge of the cell is already east of O'Hare. 15 minutes, plus the time it takes to remove the tarp and prep the infield IMO.

One cell out by Schaumburg another by Wheaton, then clear sailing. Shouldn't be a long delay.

Perfect game in under 90 pitches - ever been done?

At this pace Z won't get through the 4th and Harang could pitch a CG and go again tomorrow.

Thank you Reds. Z need that 7-pitch inning.

Here's your pbp: Z weasels out of the first with a 21 PC. Walk, 2 hits given up. Harang KKK 14 pitches. UGH

This is shaping up to be a fun night.

The sale of the Cubs is likely whether or not the Tribune sale happens. In fact it probably becomes more urgent if the Banks pull out and the deal tanks.

Nine outs is a lot of ball left in Colorado.

47 games to play and half a game out of first. As I add them up it looks like somewhere between 84 and 91 wins. From June 3rd through the end of the Cardinals series July 26, the Cubs were 30-17. The same record for the balance of the season would bring them to 90-72. The Cubs were playing great baseball during that strech with everyone healthy, it'd be a tall order to do it again. But on the plus side, they did that against a much stronger schedule than the one that remains - going 12-8 against contending teams, while they have only 12 of 47 games remaining against contenders. Much depends on how the Cubs play against the bottom of the NL Central (32 games remaining vs. the NLC, only three vs. the Brewers) I'm optimistic, but the playoffs are certainly not a lock. PLAYOFF RACE 08/10/07 Games Remaining - (Contenders) | TOTAL V. TOTAL V. Div. Leaders W-L GB-WC ATL ARI CHI COL LA MIL NY PHL SD | CONTEND NON-CONTEND New York 64-51 - 5 0 0 0 3 0 X 7 3 | 18 29 Arizona 66-51 - 3 X 3 6 6 3 0 0 7 | 28 17 Milwaukee 61-55 - 4 3 3 0 0 X 0 0 4 | 14 32 | Wildcard Race | San Diego 62-53 - 0 7 0 9 6 4 3 3 X | 32 15 Philadelphia 61-54 1.0 8 0 0 0 3 0 7 X 3 | 20 27 Altanta 61-55 1.5 X 3 0 0 0 4 5 8 0 | 21 25 Chicago 60-55 2.0 0 3 X 2 4 3 0 0 0 | 12 35 Los Angeles 60-55 2.0 0 6 4 9 X 0 3 3 6 | 28 19 Colorado 59-56 3.0 0 6 2 X 9 0 0 0 9 | 26 21 _____________________________________________________________| Totals 20 28 12 26 31 14 18 21 32 |

27 innings please.

Reds rally to tie vs. Hoffman. 1 & 2nd 1 out.

Z knows he needs to conserve his PC so he can go 12 IP tonight.