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| A League of Her Own |
| A League of Her Own is a nationwide community of Chicago Cubs fans. What makes this site unique is that it is run by a female fan who realizes that there is more to baseball than just statistics -- baseball is supposed to be fun. We know SABR, but we know "The Office" just as well. If you love the Cubs, but need more than just the boxscore, this is your place. |
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| Total Unique Visitors: 996181 |
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| Cubs Try to Win One for Mom -- Cubs v. Diamondbacks - 1:20pm CDT |
| 2008-05-11 12:24:22 |
They can't even control themselves at the Mother's Day Brunch The Date: Mother's Day 2008.
The Place: Wrigley Field.
The Story: Z versus The Big Unit.
The Big Unit returns to Wrigley for the first time since 2001. He has back problems, so a rain delay might actually help this out (there's 90% chance of showers -- anyone who lives here will tell you that is actually 100%).
The Cubs are trying for the sweep, hoping to finally win Mom's love.
Speaking of mothers, you can help sponsor Julie in the Avon breast cancer walk, which would be a great way for you to make up for all the bad things you do. You know what I mean.
Lineups coming. Off to a Mother's Day Brunch.
Happy Mother's Day. Go Cubs.
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| Cubs Win!!!! Cubs 7, D'Bags 2 |
| 2008-05-10 17:54:40 |
Well, well, well. Look who finally decided to show up.
We win, Soriano gets 4 hits, and Dempster looks like a legitimate starter. Reed Johnson is slower than molasses. Scott Eyre makes his triumphant return. And FOX loves NASCAR. Wednesday really might have been rock bottom. Rock bottom means nowhere to go but up.
Discuss.
Box Score
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| D'Bags at Cubs: 2:40 CT/3:40 ET |
| 2008-05-10 12:15:32 |
Max Scherzer prepares to take on Joe Louis in 1938
2:40 is a stupid time for a game.
Today the newly re-energized Cubs prepare to take on the hottest team in baseball once again. Maybe is was the REALLY FREAKIN cold air at Wrigley, maybe it was the game off to sit and think about what they had done, maybe it was wanting to impress our beloved "Gracie," who is single, back in town, and undoubtedly on the prowl. But whatever it was, the Cubs looked like a (slightly) different team yesterday. And by "different," I mean that some of them actually managed to hit the ball. So that was encouraging.
Today the Cubs face D'Bags' rookie pitcher Max Scherzer, who is really excited to be making his Wrigley Field debut in front of a large...
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| Game Thread: Diamondbacks at Cubs: 1:20 P.M. CT/2:20 P.M. ET:Sweep the Leg |
| 2008-05-09 11:00:00 |
The Cubs have lost seven of their last ten games and today play the Arizona Diamondbacks, the best team in the league.
Last year, the Chicago Cubs were swept from the playoffs by these guys. Today I say we start a little sweeping of our own.
Sweep the Leg, Lilly The Pitchers
The Cubs send Ted Lilly to the mound. Since his last start, Ted Lilly (2-4, 5.97 ERA) has been using an advanced montage technique washing cars and trimming bonzai trees. He is ready.
I don't wish to alarm anyone, but Ted Lilly has really improved in his last three starts. He has an ERA of 2.84 through those games, and 15 strikeouts and 7 walks in 19 innings. That's more like the Ted Lilly we met and fell in love wit...
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| Game Thread; Cubs at Reds, 12:35 p.m. EDT/11:35 a.m. CT: Jonathan Ray Lieber is back! |
| 2008-05-07 10:00:10 |
That's right, boys and girls. It's me again, right where I belong, in the starting rotation. No more of this long relief crap. I'm sick of having to come in when Rich Hill has another tear-filled walk session or when Jason Marquis is giving out hits like his name is Timbaland. I always have to go mop up the mess, while those bastards get to go into the clubhouse and have a cold one. Yeah, thanks a lot guys, leaving me runners on second and third with no outs. Great teammates.
After watching this record on repeat, here's an idea: How about you start me and then maybe we won't have this nonsense? Yes, I may have just turned 38, but surely I can go five innings and only give up one or two runs. Hell, Rich Hill couldn't even go one or two batters!
So here should be the plan. Let me get five, ...
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| Wednesday morning pinch hitting headlines |
| 2008-05-07 06:05:12 |
The only faith I have left is in this guy right here.
OK, so we all know what happens when someone other than Carl does the headlines. Especially when that someone is gravedigger. Too bad for all of you. Zambrano stops the Cubs 49 game losing streak
It felt that long, anyway
From the Daily Herald:
Ten years ago Tuesday, the Cubs got a dominant pitching performance the likes of which they haven't seen since.
On that day, Kerry Wood struck out 20 Houston Astros.
The guy who pitched Tuesday night wasn't that good, but he wasn't half-bad.
Carlos Zambrano worked 8 innings of scoreless 3-hit ball as he ran his record to 5-1 in a 3-0 Cubs victory over the Reds.
The victory was an important one for the Cubs, who snapped a two-game losing skid and ...
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| Tuesday Night Game Thread: Cubs at Reds 6:05 CT/7:05 ET |
| 2008-05-06 17:40:39 |
No, dude. You were out. Like, by a mile
No snark.
No "analysis."
No pleas.
Just win.
Lineups:
A. Soriano lf .177
R. Theriot ss .322
D. Lee 1b .333
A. Ramirez 3b .276
K. Fukudome rf .331
G. Soto c .352
R. Cedeno 2b .383
F. Pie cf .231
C. Zambrano p .250
And then Dusty will throw some crap up there for the Reds.
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| Monday Night Game Thread, Dudes: Cubs at Reds 6:05 CT/7:05 ET |
| 2008-05-05 16:05:07 |
Duuuuuuudes
(Game thread by guest blogger, Dusty Baker)
Well, well, well, dudes. Look who's come crawling back.
"Dusty doesn't know about baseball," you all said. "Dusty doesn't understand OBP," you said. "Dusty should read 'Moneyball,'" you said.
So now you've got you high-falootin' OBP, and lightsabermetrics and all that bunk, and where does it leave you, dudes? A game and a half-back of the Cardinals, that's where. You all got to learn that a manager can't do anything about where players play or where they hit in the lineup. Just look at me. I changed towns and I'm still stuck with Jerry Hairston Jr and Corey Patterson at the top of the lineup.
But one thing you CAN change? Runs. You have to score runs, dudes. I told you that walks just clog up th...
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| Joe Morgan, Here We Come! Cubs at Card 7:05 CT/8:05 ET |
| 2008-05-04 16:27:15 |
Yes, you are a bunch of weiners
So tonight not only do we have to endure the delicate genius and his team of Betty Ford All-Stars, but we also get to listen to the illustrous Joe Morgan give us his take on the game. On the one hand, this will make some of your heads explode (and you know who you are), so you should watch with the sound off. On the other hand, this should give us enough Quote Box material to last the entire season, so I expect those of you with stronger constitutions to be taking notes. Especially any time Ryan Theriot comes up to bat.
Now then.
Allow me to take a moment to address the "Rich Hill Situtation." (Doesn't it feel like there's ALWAYS a Rich Hill Situation of one sort or another?) Some of you have suggested that, as I commented degoratively on Rich's tears, that...
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| Buzz Bissinger on the Cubs vs. Cardinals -- May 3, 2008 - 2:45pm CDT |
| 2008-05-03 14:34:55 |
(Guest game thread written by Buzz Bissinger)
"I think that blogs are dedicated to cruelty, they're dedicated to journalistic dishonesty."
You people make me sick. It's not just Will Leitch - it's all of you. You don't appreciate the beauty of this game. Like I told that profane &$@% Leitch, you guys are part of the dumbing-down of America, with your detailed statistical analysis. What the hell is VORP anyway? You think your research means something, particularly when you are using it to prove me wrong.
You #$%@& people don't care about baseball. It's wrong to say that there is no way that you could possibly love it, and so much of baseball is about love. But you don't have the sense of history, which to you twenty- and thirtysomethings is largely bunk." (This is actuall...
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| Game Thread-- Cubs @ Cardinals-- 7:15 P.M. CST-- Meet me in St. Louis |
| 2008-05-02 15:49:41 |
Fresh off losing a series at home to "New Rival" Milwaukee in frustrating fashion, the Cubs look to get back in first place tonight as they play the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Cubs set a franchise record with 17 wins in April. The Cardinals had a franchise record with 18 wins in April. Both teams are like Hansel- they're so hot right now.
I would probably burn my finger if I touched either the Cubs or Cardinals right now. So hot.
Good v. Evil! Ali v. Frasier! Beatles v. Stones! Real honest-to-God Mayonnaise v. Miracle Whip! Cubs v. Cardinals! Pitchers
Taking the mound for the Chicago Cubs is the Once and Future King Rich Hill. Rich hasn't pitched since last Wednesday when th...
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| CUBS Official Motto Declaration (With A Poll!) |
| 2008-05-02 12:03:26 |
Hey Dude, we all hate this. And you.
Enough already.
This little grassroots campaign was cute at first, but when it hits the cover of SI, things have gotten entirely out of hand.
I have several problems with this motto: the force-feeding marketing campaign we're all being subjected to, the fact that the lettering has clearly been ripped off from the Red Sox, and the fact that the continued propogation of the saying is probably jinxing us to time immemorial.
But the biggest problem I have with this motto is how vague it is.
"It's Going To Happen!"
Great. What, pray tell, is "It?" We're just supposed to take from granted that "It" is winning the WS? Why couldn't "It" just as easily be "sucking for the rest of the season?" Or "making it to the playoffs and getting swept?" Or "us being subje...
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| Game Thread; Brewers at Cubs; 2:20 p.m. EDT/1:20 CT: The Return of The Fonz! |
| 2008-05-01 11:24:12 |
Did you miss me?
As the Cubs look to take the rubber match in this series, the game's headline will be dominated by Alfonso Soriano coming off the disabled list. Some thought maybe a rehab assignment would help him, but he's Alfonso Soriano for crying out loud! He doesn't do rehab assignments, he goes fresh off the D.L. right to home plate.
Soriano's return also brings about two arguments, one that is ridiculous and one that may hold some water. The first is the whole, "Oh, the Cubs were better without Soriano!" While the record may have shown that, over the course of the season, if you believe that, well, I don't know what to say. I mean, this guy did lead the Cubs in home runs last year. Not to mention his rocket arm in left field. I'm ending this discuss...
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| Game Thread; Brewers at Cubs; 8:05 p.m. EDT/7:05 CT: Thanks a lot, Sports Illustrated! |
| 2008-04-30 16:00:00 |
I loathe the unoriginal headline
So, most of you have heard about my man Dome being on the cover of Sports Illustrated, which also carries some sort of curse factor. And if there's any team synonymous with curses, it's you-know-who. That is, if you believe in those types of things.
I'm in the middle of the road here on the curse/superstition thing (sometimes I sit in the same position if the Cubs are winning, won't listen to certain songs if they're losing, etc.), but I think there is one thing we here at this beautiful blog can agree on and it's this:
Stop it with the "It's Gonna Happen" crap!
It's a dumb phrase coined by a guy who is probably a so-so fan when it all comes down to it, and it's ridiculous that people (even ...
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| Do-It_Yourself-Game Thread: Cubs vs. Brewers 7:05 CT/8:05 ET |
| 2008-04-29 17:10:17 |
Sorry guys. Rough day today. Just pretend I wrote a really stimulating diary with all kinds of in-depth game analysis and witty remarks.
Marquis vs. Sheets. Which will happen first: Marquis being run from the game or Sheets' shoulder exploding on the mound?
Game's on Comcast and WGN Radio.
Lineups to come.
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| Off-Base Diary: Rainy Days And Mondays Always Get Me Down Edition |
| 2008-04-28 13:04:41 |
Actually, I usually love rainy days. But rainy off-days are a different story.
For all you Jessica Simpson fans out there, I hope you learn to love her dad as much as you love her, because he ain't going nowhere:
Though Jessica Simpson and Tony Romo seem like the picture-perfect couple, OK! magazine reports that Jess's dad-cum-manager-cum-media mouthpiece, Joe, is a problem-causing paternal third wheel in the relationship.
Case in point, an insider told OK! that the much-publicized Mexican excursion Jess and Tony enjoyed in January was never meant to include all the media hubbub. "Everybody agreed to tell no one about the trip," the source said. "On the day they were flying out, who shows up? Joe Simpson. Tony and the other guys thought it was weird."
Tony and his Dallas Cowboy teammate...
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| Sunday Game Thread: Cubs at Nats 12:35 CT/1:35 ET |
| 2008-04-27 11:18:07 |
Our hero
(bangs gavel)
This session of the Reed Johnson for Supreme Ruler of the Universe Club (RJFSRUC) will come to order.
Okay, so it took some time for us to appreciate that RJ should be Supreme Ruler of the Universe, as we were distracted by the likes of such poseurs as KFuk, DLee, and ARam. And yes, he has, for an as yet undetermined reason, a small wolverine glued to his face. But I'm sure he has a good reason for it. Has it ever ocurred to you that perhaps the wolverine is from whence he gets his POWER?
Think about it. Anyway, all superheroes have their shortcomings. Superman needed glasses for his secret identity. Wonderwoman had to pretend to be a wuss. Bruce Banner WAS a wuss. Spiderman uncomfortably patriotic. And yes, RJ has misappropriated Scott Ian's facial hair. Wanna mak...
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| Saturday Game Thread: Cubs at Gnats 6:10 CT/7:10 ET |
| 2008-04-26 16:21:20 |
Julie hard at work on the game tonight
Hey guys. . . so remember how is was a big joke that the Cubs were only good while I was on vacation and that, as soon as I got back, they were going to start sucking again?
Uh . . . heh heh. Sorry about that.
So it appears that, while attempting to make light of the fact that the Cubs were playing like the Yankees and I wasn't getting to see it, I actually managed to foist some sort of curse on the team. Indeed, ever since I've been back, the Cubs have, in fact, sucked. I know it's hard to believe, but, bear in mind that I did kill a bird with my mind. So. . . yeah. Anyway, I just wanted YOU all to know that I'm hard at work over here at reversing whatever string of bad luck I've unintentionally stuck our belov...
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| Game Thread-- Cubs @ Nationals-- 6:35 P.M. CST--Mr. Cub Goes to Washington |
| 2008-04-25 15:43:45 |
The Cubs open the first of a three-day set tonight in our nation's capital. This will be the first time the Cubs have ever played in the new Nationals Park, so first order of business: find home plate. Lawd knows the Nationals haven't found it yet. Ah-thank you! Ah-thank you!
Seriously, the Nationals are 26th in the league in scoring runs.
The Cubs have come to clean up Washington. Go crazy, folks! Pitchers
Taking the mound to stop the Cubs' worst losing streak since April 12 is team funny-man and resident Canadian RYAN SCOTT DEMPSTER!
With glowing hearts we see thee rise, the True Northsider- Strong and Free
Dempster has proven his doubters wrong so far this season, going 3-0 with an ERA...
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| Friday Off-Base Diary: Grazie per Tutti! |
| 2008-04-25 11:51:29 |
Oh, how I missed you guys: proggy's insane anti-Theriot rantings, nutsack's insane PRO-Theriot rantings, drew and tyger arguing about some obscure stat that none of the rest of us understand, umbra and millertime with speaking their weird twin language. As lovely as Italy was, I just couldn't stay away. You guys complete me.
And, a HUGE thank you to everyone who kept this place running in my absence, especially flyball, thisyearcub, carlheartscubs, and umbra, who did all the game threads and managed to get something on the front page every day--sometimes twice a day! Well done, kids.
However, we are faced with a small problem because of my return. Specifically, I broke the streak. No, no. Don't try to deny it. They win the entire time I'm gone and, almost the second my plane touched down ...
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| Game Thread: Cubs at Rockies; 3:05 p.m. EDT/2:05 CT: Three Sweeps? |
| 2008-04-24 11:22:04 |
Does not suck
Before we get to the game today, isn't this whole "10,000 wins" thing kind of being overplayed? Yes, it's a great accomplishment, but all it's really shown is that the Cubs have been playing a really long time. Someone call me when the Cubs get a special "10,000 wins" award. And it's more reason for dumbass announcers to talk about the 100 years thing. Of course, ESPN touched on that this morning.
ESPN has also been driving me mad lately. This is the hottest team in baseball, yet the highlights aren't until 20 minutes into SportsCenter, and not the top baseball story? Also, thanks to their recent telecast Monday, I've figured out the network's "Rules of Announcing Cubs Games at Wrigley Field.":
1. Talk as little about the game currently going...
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| Game Thread: Cubs at Rockies; 8:35 p.m. ET/7:35 CT: Into Thin Air |
| 2008-04-23 17:11:46 |
Here's the Rockies trying to break the Cubs' stride. Here's the Rockies trying to hoooooold the Cubs down!
But oh no! They got to keep on moving!
The Cubs begin the cross-country odd road trip tonight, where they flew from Chicago to Denver, play a whopping two games, then go all the way back to the East Coast and Washington, D.C. for three games this weekend. Why not play in Colorado, then stay out for a West Coast swing? Who knows, I guess that would make too much sense.
Anyway, the Cubs' bats are smokin', kind of like the new My Morning Jacket song (rock!). And a great place to go with hot bats is Colorado, where the scoring is plentiful (even with the dumb humidor).
The flip side of this is that the Cubs' pitchers will also be susceptible, starting wi...
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| Yeah, it's pretty good to be the Cubs right about now |
| 2008-04-23 12:38:26 |
Here's the real reason Ted Lilly got it together yesterday. Hanging with a drop-dead gorgeous supermodel will get anyone going.
The Cubs have become quite the hot topic of late. That's what winning five straight and 13 of the last 16 games will do. Hell, even Deadspin is doing a daily Cubs post (it seems at least), but I really believe that's Will Leitch (a die-hard Cards fan) trying some reverse mojo.
Is it early? Sure is (cough, Cedeno). But with the Reds already firing their G.M. (but still retaining Dusty), the Featured Display That Is Eric Gagne running all summer at Miller Park and the fact sometime soon (I think, well, hope) St. Louis will come back down to Earth (seriously, no way that rotation can hold up), the Cubs seem to be sitting pretty.
Of course, as Cubs fans do, there's always that feeling of "waiting for the other shoe to drop."
For now, I'm having a hell of a time riding this wave, and plan to keep on doing so.
Game thread later today.
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| Mets/Cubs series recap through YouTube videos |
| 2008-04-22 17:26:04 |
I, uh, really don't know what to do. The Cubs are playing out of their minds right now. A combined score of 15-2 over the Mets in the last two games. Another series sweep. Cedeno grand slam. Pie three-run homer last night. My arm hurts a lot from me pinching myself.
But best of all, Lilly pitched pretty great today: 6 IP, 1 ER, 4 H. In one outing, his ERA went from 9.16 to 7.30. So Theodore, this one's for you. One love.
And Ronny! Oh, Ronny. Is this your year? I really would like it to be. It's good to see you play well. You've taken the lowest of punches, endured nickname after nickname and keep coming back for more. You're talking World Series (let's not do that again though), then backing it up with your bat. This isn't a hoodwink, right? I say no. As far as this Cubs fan goes, I apologize to you. You're no longer E6, you are now Ronny Cedeno.
A scary-looking Peter Cetera and really bad '80s music video can explain it better.
Onto Colorado, Cubs fans.
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| Tuesday Game Thread: Mets @ Cubs, 2:20 EDT/1:20 CDT |
| 2008-04-22 11:56:19 |
Psst. Hey Ted, over here!
Ted, we need to have a talk. Rather than berate you on your performance in 2008, let's work on some encouragement. You know what you were doing in April last year? Pitching really well. You started 5 games, threw 33 innings (that's almost 7 innings a start!) and allowed 21 hits, 5 walks and 8 earned runs. This all added up to a 2.18 ERA and 0.79 WHIP. That's mind-boggling. Now, I don't think there's a single one of us that is going to expect that from you right now, but I think we all would like to see a bit of improvement from your current 9.16 ERA/1.71 WHIP-allowing ways. Is there something missing from last year that made you feel really super (Cliff Floyd)? Is the newness of Chicago wearing off (it shouldn't there's so much to see and do)? Are y...
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| Monday Game Thread: Mets @ Cubs, 7:05 EDT/6:05 CDT |
| 2008-04-21 16:39:10 |
Mr. Met prays to the baseball gods that his precious ones don't get the drubbing they deserve.
So, the Chicago Cubs (12-6) have recently been tearing it up. They've presently won 6 of 7 games to overtake the Cards (when does their regression start?) for first place in the NL Central. However, the games they've been winning have been against the crappiest of the crappy - the Reds and Pirates (combined 15-26). Tonight, we get to see them in action against an opponent with a winning record for the first time since the first series of the year (lost two of three to the Brewers). The New York Mets enter toinght's game as the NL's anointed chosen ones. Bolstered by the addition of Johan Santana (looks like we'll miss him in the quick two-game set), m...
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| Gamethread 4/20: Cubs Pirates 2:20 EST/ 1:20 CST |
| 2008-04-20 11:56:12 |
Only 3 weeks into the season and the Cubs are facing the Pittsburgh Pirates for the 6th time. And although the first series included some loss of sleep with the crazy extra innings games, the team has played fairly well against them.
Pittsburgh has Zach Duke throwing from the mound, and although on his 4th start he doesn't have a decision yet. Strangely his best outing was against the Cubs, and the Pirates lost. He's left handed which means we'll probably get The Beard today.
Going to the mound for the Cubs? Ryan Scott Dempster. His first 2 starts this year went well, a combined 13 innings, 4 hits, 1 earned run. But his last outing was a little more difficult, 5 hits and 4 runs i...
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| Gamethread 4/19: Cubs/Pirates 1:05 EST/12:05 CST: The Return of Sloth |
| 2008-04-19 10:45:00 |
I think we all need a little more Fukudome in our lives. Today the Pittsburgh Pirates square off in game two of a three game series against the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs have beaten the Pirates four times in a row, three in Pittsburgh and the series opener in Chicago.
Pitching Matchup
The Pirates send LHP Sloth Gorzelanny to the mound to face off against OGDJM.
Last time against the Cubs, Sloth only lasted 2.1 IP giving up 7 ER on 6 hits. He was much better in his last outing against Cincinnati going 6 and 1/3 IP giving up 4 hits and only one ER.
Sloth love Chunk!
Marquis hasn't done much better posting a 5.23 ERA in two starts thus far. Marquis pitched well in his last outing recovering ...
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| Game Thread-- Pirates @ Cubs-- 1:10 P.M. CST-- Help! |
| 2008-04-18 11:45:00 |
The Cubs are in the middle of this homestand and look to be in good shape, having taken two out of three from the Dusty-Baker-managed, Corey-Patterson-having Cincinnati Reds. But the Cubs also stand at the middle of a crisis, having lost one of their best players in Alfonso Soriano. Who will step into the breach? So far, it's been Mike Fontenot, whose .633 OPS has actually been marginally better than Soriano's slumping .528.
The other trouble facing the Cubs has been its left-handed pitching. Ted Lilly and Rich Hill have yet to win a game between them, and have posted ERAs of 9.16 and 5.00 respectively. After Lilly's outing yesterday, it's looking like the Cubs' left-handers are scuffling. Rich Hill needs to take a big ste...
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| Game Thread: Reds at Cubs; 2:20 p.m. ET/1:20 CT: Ted Lilly Intervention |
| 2008-04-17 11:15:47 |
Hey, why is everyone here?
Theodore,
Sit down, please. There are some things we'd like to say to you. Hey, remember 2007? Man, those were good times. A lot of people questioned your signing, thinking it was odd to give $40 million over four years to a guy who was just one game over .500 with a 4.60 ERA in his career at the time.
But you didn't listen to those detractors. No, you came in with something to prove last year. When the Cubs needed a victory to stop a losing streak or creep closer to first place, most of the time you were on the mound-and you delivered. At one point during July, you won five straight decisions. You finished the season tying your career-high in wins (15) and setting a new one in strikeouts (174).
However, this season, you ... you'...
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| Game Thread: Reds at Cubs; 8:05 p.m. ET/7:05 CT: Where Do We Go From Here? |
| 2008-04-16 15:00:00 |
"I hurt myself today..."
Well, that's just great. The $136 million dollar man gets injured ... on a hop? Only in Wrigleyville. But what's done is done, and now the Cubs have to adjust. Perusing through the Cubs blogosphere today, not many have panicked, and for good reason. Although Soriano brings a lot to the table, it's not like he's been lighting up pitchers like Derrek Lee or anything. The biggest glare the Cubs will be missing is his rocket arm in left, which has already accounted for some big plays in the early season.
So, now the Cubs have to make some decisions. According to Paul Sullivan, it looks like Eric Patterson will be the callup to fill the roster spot vacated when Soriano goes on the D.L. Why E-Patt and not Matt Murton? Sully explains:
That...
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| Game Thread: Reds at Cubs: 8:05 EDT/7:05 CDT |
| 2008-04-15 17:19:37 |
A self-described "life long Cincinnati Reds fan". We're so much cooler. Tonight's game has been publicized thusfar for the return of one former Cubs manager to Wrigley Field. I mentioned in today's headlines that I'm not that interested in his return, so we'll focus on other things about tonight's matchup, like who has the hottest players! I kid, I kid.
Starting tonight for the Reds is Aaron Harang. You may remember from Umbra's Friday game thread that his goatee finished second in the NL in strikeouts last year.
Aaron Harang has a pudgy face and he eats babies.
He's been quite good the last couple seasons, and thusfar in 2008. In three starts, he's thrown 21 innings with a 2.14 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 15 strikeouts and on...
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| Sunday Cubs at Phillies 1:35/12:35 Central |
| 2008-04-13 11:49:30 |
Ahhh, Sunday afternoon baseball, A true joy, sipping a cold beer, napping on the couch, listening to Len and Bob discuss their ipod favorites. Really, its one of my favorite activities.
Today, we get the added treat of getting Marquis on the mound. Fresh from strep throat, I'm hoping the antibiotics have done a seek and destroy on the bad pitching germs too. Or at least enough to have a starter other than Zambrano pitch more than 4 innings.
I'm sending happy thoughts to you On the other end we get to face Jamie Moyer. And in case you haven't listened to, any broadcast, or looked at any article in the last 2 days Moyer is an ex-Cub. I know this is important somehow because I keep hearing about it, but really I don't care all that much since he hasn't played f...
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| Saturday Game Thread: Cubs @ Phillies 6:05 CST/7:05 CST |
| 2008-04-12 17:18:34 |
No fair. Ninja fighting never breaks out at OUR games
Tonight we take field against Philly once again to try to right this ship and reinstate our vaunted wining streak. On our side? Our much-celebrated catcher, Geovany Soto, is 9th in the league in OPS (1.077), our fearless leader, DLee, is heating up after a slow start with a .318 average, and our friend from the East, Fukudome, is hitting a scorching .333 with a .447 OBP. Working against us? Ryan Theriot is still in the starting lineup, despite a .220 average and an OBP coming perilously close to dipping below .300 (.308), Rich Hill has been sent to bed without dinner, and Ted Lilly 2008 (0-1, 9.72)hasn't exactly looked a lot like Ted Lilly 2007 (15-8, 3.83).
Add to that the fact that Cubs are step...
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| Saturday Brunch Headlines/Open Thread |
| 2008-04-12 09:59:32 |
Big Z has a start from the past
Recovery is a process.
From the Trib:
The new, decaffeinated Carlos Zambrano was back to his old ways Friday night at Citizens Bank Park, letting his emotions get the best of him in a 5-3 loss to Philadelphia.
Whether he was snapping back his glove after taking a throw from catcher Geovany Soto, stalking behind the mound after issuing a two-out walk or throwing back his head in disgust after a Pat Burrell fly dropped a few feet away from right fielder Daryle Ward, Zambrano was a study in frustration.
Afterward, Zambrano was relaxed and contrite in the Cubs clubhouse.
"We don't have to worry about those plays," he said. "We just have to worry about our players and do our jobs. My team gave me a lead, and I blew it. But those things are part of the game an...
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| Game Thread: Cubs at Phillies, 6:05 PM CST-- Business Time |
| 2008-04-11 13:52:27 |
The Cubs have had a jolly good time beating up on the Pittsburgh Pirates, a team that will probably lose 90 games this year. Their sweep last night makes it the sixth game in a row the Cubs have won against the Pirates, dating back to last year. Beating the teams you should beat is a sign of a good team. But now the Cubs face a much tougher opponent on the road: The Philadelphia Phillies.
It's time for business. It's business time.
You say you want some Carlos Zambrano. Well I'm not surprised. Pitchers
The starting pitcher for the Chicago Cubs is Carlos Zambrano (1-0, 1.32 ERA). Big Z has been stellar thus far- 12 K's in 14 innings of work, 1 HR. Two games is only two games, but ...
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| Game Thread: Cubs at Pirates; 7:05 p.m. ET/6:05 CT: Mascot Mania |
| 2008-04-10 14:33:07 |
Don't know how many of you caught this, but check this video out from last night's game. Fast forward to about 40 seconds to see what I'm talking about.
The Parrot sends out his "I wanna sex u up" vibe to Kevin Hart.
Yep, that's the Pirate Parrot thrusting at Kevin Hart during every pitch. No word on whether Hart is into the whole "furries" thing, but that's for another time (and probably blog as well).
Honestly, I found this ridiculously funny (probably since the Cubs ended up winning). And it also goes to show the depths in which the Pirates organization has become. I don't even think Homer the Dragon (the mascot here in Charlotte for our Triple-A Knights) would stoop to such antics. And...
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| Game Thread: Cubs at Pirates; 7:05 p.m. ET/6:05 CT: Back to Baseball |
| 2008-04-09 14:37:51 |
After just realizing I laid out a scenario in which I was playing a sadistic torturer to Amy Winehouse, figured it was a good time to put up the game thread and get back to baseball talk.
It's been almost 48 hours since the Cubs attempted once again to make me die young pulled out an exciting 10-8 victory in extra innings over the Pirates. And the off day was planned perfectly (thanks, MLB!), since the bullpen availability probably was relegated to Kerry Wood and Mike Fontenot. But hopefully, the Cubs won't have to go deep in the 'pen again, especially with the triumphant return of
RYAN SCOTT DEMPSTER!
We're back!!!
Dempster (1-0, 1.50) quieted the...
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| What's Your Freakin' Problem? |
| 2008-04-08 13:13:15 |
Mr. Angry would like to know
I unloaded on this team's treatment of my beloved Felix Pie on the headlines thread this morning, but I'm going to repost it here, as that is MY freaking problem today.
I don't even know where to start about this Johnson/Pie thing.
This is what drives me nuts about this situation, and I almost posted a diary on it last night, but I was too mad to type.
So we invest all this time and effort in Pie. Declare him "untouchable" for at least two consecutive off-seasons, send coaches down to winter ball to specifically work with him on hitting lefties, don't go after someone like Andruw Jones or Kenny Lofton (I know, big difference, but still)in the off-season because we already have our CFer. Declare him the starter that will play every day.
But every time he get...
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| Monday Game Recap: Hey, Wha Happen? |
| 2008-04-07 20:19:28 |
Meet our new secret weapon
I'm not even sure where to start.
We were winning, then we blew a 7-run lead (thanks a lot, Lilly), then we were winning again. Then we won.
Maybe Yahoo can say it better:
Aramis Ramirez's sacrifice fly scored the go-ahead run during a two-run 12th inning in which the Cubs didn't have a hit off rookie Evan Meek, and Chicago rallied after squandering the huge lead to win the Pittsburgh Pirates' home opener 10-8 Monday.
Former starter Jon Lieber (1-1) gave a depleted bullpen a big lift with three scoreless innings before Carlos Marmol finished up in the 12th for his first save since June 27, helping the Cubs win their third in a row.
Even after they gave away the huge lead, committed three key infield errors and walked eight batters. So. . . yeah.
If you need mor...
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