Yes, I survived the massive storms that ripped through the area today. Thanks for noticing. Since none of you bothered to ask if I survived, I will point out that it’s now in the low 70s here, and all the windows in the cabin are open. So suck on that, those of you left in the deep fryer.

Uh, so the Cubs are still in Atlanta, and also STILL in the basement in the NL Central, but ONLY ONE GAME BEHIND THE ASTROS. The dream is still alive.

Tonight the Cubs send Paul Maholm (who I swear pitches every other day at this point) (2-4, 4.71)  to the hill to face  some dude named Randall Delgado (2-5, 4.18).

I know that this isn’t a headlines post, but I just had to point this out. Dale Sveum was asked about his fondest memory thus far in baseball, and he chose PITCHING DURING THE HOME RUN DERBY IN 2005.

ATLANTA — Dale Sveum had thrown plenty of batting practice, but never on such a big stage as the 2005 Home Run Derby, which was part of the All-Star festivities at Comerica Park in Detroit.

“Throwing in a Home Run hitting contest is kind of overwhelming in a way, because everybody is sitting there watching,” said Sveum, now the Cubs’ manager. “When you throw B.P., nobody is really watching you. [With the Home Run Derby], you know it’s on TV, millions of people watching.

“There are a lot of firsts involved,” he said Monday. “You’re throwing to Hall of Famers and regular hitters and All-Stars, and talking to them and getting to know guys who you don’t know, and you know they’re great players. Having your son on the field, those are the things you can’t replace or take away. He’ll never forget being on the field.”

» Continue reading “Cubs Live Game Thread: I Don’t “Get” Dale Sveum”

You may remember last time Ryan Dempster pitched. It was his 35th birthday and he allowed exactly zero runs in eight innings. Then, in the ninth, Carlos Marmol allowed three, and the Cubs went on to lose to the Reds in 10 innings. This also happened to be the game that earned Carlos his demotion from the closer role.

In Dempster’s four starts this season, he’s allowed three runs in 28.1 innings. He’s apparently doing his best to show the world how worthless a stat the Win is, as he’s still stuck on zero despite the 0.95 ERA. I suppose he’s hoping the offense and bullpen chip in to help him get off the schneid.

Opposing the 35-year-old Dempster tonight for the Braves is 22-year-old righty Randall Delgado. Delgado (2-3, 5.14) went eight innings against the Phillies in his last start, allowing two runs. Delgado has 26 strikeouts and 12 walks in 28 innings this season. So there’s potential for the Cubs to get some runners on base, but also a strong potential to watch a Cub strike out with runners on base.  A scouting report from last year says he sits in the low 90s with his fastball but can top out at 96.

Lineup after the jump.

» Continue reading “Cubs Live Game Thread: Dempster Tries Again, 7:05 Central”