After splitting a four-game series in Atlanta, the Cubs jetted to New York where they’ll take on the jerkface Mets tonight. It’s the start of a three-game series which will take us up to the All Star Break. The good news for tonight: the Cubs are facing a starting pitcher they beat 6-1 in a game two weeks ago at Wrigley. The bad news: that starting pitcher is Johan Santana.

We all know about the Cubs’ struggles against left-handed starters, but how did they win a game against Santana two weeks ago? It was the four unearned runs in the Wackety Sax, two three-base error inning against reliever Jon Rauch. So we probably shouldn’t expect that to happen again. For the season, Mr. Santana is 6-4 with a 2.76 ERA and 1.09 WHIP. Just to throw some more cold water on tonight’s party, Johan’s home ERA is 1.16.

For the Cubs, it’s emerging Cy Young candidate Travis Wood. Young Mr. Wood has allowed exactly zero earned runs in his last two outings (one of which was the aforementioned Wakety Sax game against the Mets). For the season, he’s 3-3, 3.05 and 1.09.

» Continue reading “Live Game Thread: Cubs @ Mets, 6:10 pm Central”

That’s right Cubs fans, this is the last worthless evening that you’ll have to spend. Why? Because tomorrow Anthony Rizzo arrives to save us all from  . .  well . .  SOMETHING. No–I got it—he’s saving us from NOTHING. Another season of nothingness. That is from which Anthony Rizzo saves us. 

Rizzo, the Cubs’ top prospect who was batting .342 at Triple-A Iowa and leading the Pacific Coast League with 23 home runs, will join the big league team on Tuesday when it plays host to the Mets at Wrigley Field.

The first baseman started for Iowa on Monday against Round Rock in Des Moines but was pulled in the fourth inning. He has 62 RBIs and an OPS of 1.101. This month, he’s hitting .316 with six homers and 16 RBIs. Only Alfonso Soriano has matched those numbers for the Cubs in June, hitting seven homers with 16 RBIs.

The Cubs are riding a four-game losing streak, and have struggled all season with runners in scoring position.

Way to bring us all down by throwing that little tid-bit in there, Carrie.

» Continue reading “Cubs Live Game Thread: The Last Worthless Evening”