Trade Deadline Overflow Thread
The latest news is that Ryan Dempster’s hissy fit seems to have worked. According to Jim Bowden, the Cubs and Dodgers are closing in on a deal, though nothing is official yet.
Cubs Game Recap: Volstad Still Not Good
Dude, maybe you should get some pointers from Maholm.
Today’s game contained exactly zero surprises, unless you want to count the fact that Matt Kemp again failed to hit a home run. Chris Volstad had two implode-y innings, handing five runs over to the Dodgers. The Cubs managed all of five hits off of Dodger pitching, and lost, 5-1.
Volstad was pretty good everywhere except the second and fifth innings, where he let LA string a few too many hits together. Particularly galling was a two-run double by pitcher Chris Capuano in the second inning that gave the Dodgers a 3-0 lead.
The Cubs made a token show of a rally when Ian Stewart drove in Starlin Castro with two outs in the ninth, but Darwin Barney grounded out to end it.
Points of interest: Lendy Castillo is not, in fact, dead or in hiding. He pitched the sixth and seventh and gave up only a single to Mark Ellis. Recently-shunned Carlos Marmol got an inning of work today as well, and the change of pace hasn’t done him any good; he issued a walk and launched a wild pitch.
We also saw Marlon-Byrd-compensation Michael Bowden in the ninth, where he was perfect. (Bowden for Closer 2012!)
The Cubs committed two errors in quick succession today. Volstad flubbed a pickoff throw, sending Mark Ellis to second. Starlin Castro (sigh) followed that up by bobbling an Andre Ethier grounder, allowing him to reach base. Neither runner would score. Castro did balance out the error with a three-hit day, making him 60% of Chicago’s offensive production.
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Cubs Live Game Thread: Clash Of The Titans
Cubs Titans, that is.
Okay, so it’s not Lincecum v. Lee, but it IS a battle between two of the best loved Cubs of all-time. Or at least who SHOULD be two of the best loved Cubs of all-time.
Our Hero
Our Former Hero
Release the Kracken and let the games begin.
Lilly has been solid so far for the Dodgers this season (God, it’s still hard to say it!), going 2-2 with a 4.45 ERA. While Big Z has been equally good, he’s sitting just a wee bit prettier with a 3-1 record, but 4.91 ERA. Going to the tie-breaker, Z has the superior WHIP (1.28 vs. 1.45).
And if the fact that he’s better than Lilly at ANYTHING doesn’t cause the masses to support Carlos Zambrano, nothing ever will.
Now go forth and start the “Carlos Zambrano as Chuck Norris” meme.
We got additional good news from the Dodgers today, who states that Andre Ethier is out with elbow inflammation and will not play today. You know what I think was inflammed? His sense of fear at having to face Big Z. There, I said it.
» Continue reading “Cubs Live Game Thread: Clash Of The Titans”
PicApp – Chicago Cubs images
Even Milty hit a home run!
Yes, I’m aware it’s the Reds that the Cubs are playing, and I’m aware
that the Cards are facing the buzzsaw that is the Phillies right now.
But…
THE CUBS ARE ONLY A HALF GAME OUT OF FIRST PLACE
Cubs @ Phillies: Live Game Chat
Oh, dammit.
I hope you all enjoyed our little dalliance in DC, because tonight we have to play a real team. Unlike the Gnats, who are currently toiling at the bottom of the NL East, TWENTY-SIX games out of first place, the Phillies are firmly in charge of their division, up by 6.5 games.
Alas, things HAVE seemed to have picked up lately, even if we were playing a team that would have trouble with the Kane County Cougars. More people are hitting the ball with their bats, the starting pitching continues to be strong, and even the bullpen seems to have gotten it sorted lately. Let’s just hope it lasts, because I really fear for the emotional well-being of a large portion of Cubs Nation if we drop two of the next three.
Cubs @ Gnats: Live Game Thread
LOHO covergirl ‘canopygirl’ and her mom with one of America’s ‘golden boy’ Presidents. What did Teddy ever do, anyway? Shoot some lions? Start the Spanish-American War? Have a bear named after him? Bah!
As somewhat of a Revolutionary War buff, I tend to take notice of certain things. New books by David McCullough or Joseph Ellis, new programming on History Channel, giant Presidents running the basepaths in our nation’s capital.
Yet there is one Founding Father who always seems to be left out of the mix, and he happens to be my FAVORITE Founding Father. Not only was he a brilliant lawyer, orator, and rebel (note: I didn’t say “brilliant President”), but he was almost solely responsible for keeping Congress’ faith in George Washington alive during the year 1776. And he should have a memorial. AND he died on the Fourth of July, along with that namby pamby, Thomas Jefferson)
Chicago Cubs Headlines For Satuday
I would love to show you guys a photo of Hufflepuff’s catch last night, but alas, I don’t have the rights to do so. So here’s a random shot of a double play being broken up.
Check out the photo of Hoffpauir’s catch here.
I’m a bit distressed that we’re having so much trouble scoring runs on the lowly Gnats. Thank God for pitching.
WASHINGTON — Carlos Zambrano tempted fate once again when he returned from his trip to the Bahamas on Thursday with blond streaks in his hair.
The last time Zambrano dyed his hair was in August 2007, after he had just earned National League Pitcher of the Month honors in July. He promptly went on a career-high five-game losing streak, posting an 8.29 earned-run average over his next six starts.
But after a haircut and rinse job, Zambrano was back his old self by early September.
When Zambrano threw 40 pitches in the first inning Friday night against the Nationals and forced home a run with a bases-loaded walk, it looked as though history was repeating itself.
But Zambrano lasted five innings, throwing 113 pitches and driving in two runs in a 3-1 victory.
