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Welcome back Sut - it was great to see you at the park!
It's a cool night at the ballpark, but nowhere near as cold as Tuesday night. Former Cub Rick Sutcliffe told me it was the coldest he's ever been at Wrigley Field. Fortunately, the weather hasn't hampered the Cubs at home, as they've now won 21 of their first 29 in the Friendly Confines. Big Z goes tonight against Derek Lowe in what could be a fun matchup. Both have excellent sinkers. Z has been a lot better early on than Lowe, who hasn't won in over a month.
One lineup note: Reed Johnson gets the nod in CF for Jim Edmonds, who has struggled against Lowe in his career (5-30).
Next up, the banged up Colorado Rockies for a four-game series starting Thursday night. If the Cubs can sweep this Dodger series, it could be a fantastic week.
Len
The baseball world is full of issues and our boys are full of opinions in this week's Len and Bob's podcast. Instant replay, the unbalanced schedule, maple bats - hear the announcers' take on where the game is headed. As always, our all-access Pod service can be downloaded to your iPod or mp3 player in the audio format, or you can watch our favorite pair via the video version. If you would like, you can watch the podcast on your computer right at your desk.
Thank for watching and listening - let us know what you think.
Monday: Fergie Jenkins
Tuesday: Tommy Lasorda
Wednesday: Rick Sutcliffe
Thursday: Ron Santo
Friday: Stan Mikita, Bobby Hull, Tony Esposito
Saturday: Tim Meadows
Sunday: Ron Zook
The Cubs are back home to start a 2-week stint playing teams from the NL West. The Cubs are 7-2 vs. the West so far. They'll play 7 of these games against the Dodgers, a club that is 26-23, 3.5 behind Arizona in the West. It's a banged up team, with star players Jason Schmidt, Nomar Garciaparra, Andruw Jones and Rafael Furcal all on the DL. Their bullpen has been really good, so you don't want to trail late. Surprisingly, the top of their rotation has struggled--Brad Penny and Derek Lowe have ERAs in the 5's currently. But their first
2 starters in this series, Chad Billingsley and Hiroki Kuroda, have pitched well in spite of losing records. Also, you have to contain their running game, let by former Cub Juan Pierre. They have 47 stolen bases, good for 2nd in the NL.
Should be fun...Lou Piniella vs. Joe Torre...let's hope the Cubs get back on track here at home, where they've gone 19-8.
Len
Former Major League pitcher Geremi Gonzalez, who won 11 games for the Chicago Cubs in 1997, was killed by a lightning strike in his native Venezuela on Sunday. He was 33.
Emergency management official Herman Bracho said Monday that Gonzalez was struck by lightning at a beach.
Chicago Cubs General Manager Jim Hendry today issued the following statement upon learning of the passing of right-handed pitcher Geremi Gonzalez.
“The Chicago Cubs are very saddened today to learn of Geremi Gonzalez’s sudden passing. Geremi began his career as a Cub, leading our pitching staff with 11 wins as a rookie in 1997 and, despite an arm injury, helping the club early in the season a year later to an eventual post-season appearance. The organization sends its heartfelt condolences to his family.”
*Cubs starter Ted Lilly has won four straight decisions to raise his record to 5-4.
*Pirates starter Paul Maholm is a perfect 4-0 vs. the Cubs in his career.
*With last night's loss, the Cubs are now 5-6 in one-run games. St. Louis is 11-7 and Houston is 9-7.
*Aramis Ramirez (.385) and Alfonso Soriano (.400) each have 2 home runs off Maholm.
*Kerry Wood is now 10-for-14 in save situations this season.
As we near the month of June, it's always fun to figure out who the Cubs' All-Stars will be. This year, we could see the Cubs receive several selections. I will give you my top 4 picks based solely on their early season performance (i.e., not based on who might win the fans voting...I'm simply going by the top performers so far on the team)...
Now, all this is assuming these players continue at their current pace:
1) Carlos Zambrano should be a lock for his 3rd All-Star nod.
2) Derrek Lee should get in (would be his 3rd trip as well).
3) Geovany Soto is very deserving. It's always tougher for young players to make it as reserves, but if he keeps hitting, I think he has a strong chance. Brian McCann and Russell Martin probably will make it, so it could come down to roster space and whether the NL can carry a 3rd catcher.
4) Carlos Marmol...he's my sleeper pick. The toughest position is middle and set-up relief. If you don't start and you don't close, it's difficult to put up win and/or save totals that garner a strong look. All I know is Clint Hurdle would benefit from having Marmol pitch the 8th inning for the NL.
Other Cubs will get consideration, but if I had to pick 4, those are my choices at this point. Your top 4?
Len
The Cubs are headed to the birthplace of baseball in Cooperstown, NY for the annual Hall of Fame Game on Monday, June 16. WGN-TV will televise this special event from Doubleday Field as the Cubs take on the Padres in what promised to be a great day for baseball fans. Here's a brief preview of the Cubs in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Jim Edmonds made a fantastic over-the-shoulder catch Monday night as
his momentum took him up Tal's Hill. It was vintage Edmonds. He
never panicked and actually made it look relatively easy. It was far
from it. Edmonds plays shallow and without asking him, I'm assuming
he does it for a reason--to take away bloop hits. He plays as shallow
as he can possibly play with the idea that he can still get back and
make those catches if needed. I laugh when people say he does it on
purpose to make the catch look better. That's ridiculous. I'm
guessing Jim plays it that way because he knows he's CAPABLE of making
those tough catches. Why play deeper to make that particular catch
easier when you know you can run it down anyway? It's like a base-
stealer who gets the biggest lead he can get without actually getting
picked off--there may be a couple really close plays at first, but you
stretch it to the limit. And back to Edmonds, If you can play 2 or 3
steps closer to home plate, the value of cutting off a blooper and
getting a big out is huge and you still give yourself a shot to make
the grab on a 425-foot flyball. As we said last night, there's
nothing more demoralizing for a pitcher than making a good pitch and
have a hitter fist it into shallow center for a base hit on a ball
that should be caught.
Just my two cents...
Len
After an 8-2 homestand, you can't help but think about the huge potential for fun this summer. In this week's Len and Bob's Podcast, we talk about Alfonso Soriano, home cookin', swagger vs. giggly, and what to watch for this week. As always, our all-access Pod service can be downloaded to your iPod or mp3 player in the audio format, or you can watch our favorite pair via the video version. If you would like, you can watch the podcast on your computer right at your desk.
Thank for watching and listening - let us know what you think.
You talk to players on both sides and nobody has seen a homestand like the one Alfonso Soriano is having.
He's cut way down on his strikeouts this homestand, taking the right pitches, and it's the same every time - hit the ball hard, drive the ball, and when there's a mistake anywhere near the strike zone, he is crushing it.
It's a good feeling to be that in control at the plate. (Well, at least that's what they tell me.) The biggest detriment to a streak like this is having to talk about it before and after every game. Most hitters don't want to think too much, but just want to keep it going without analyzing it.
*Alfonso Soriano is 20-for-37 on this homestand (.541) with seven homers in his last six games. He has led off the last five games with a hit.
*The Cubs lead the majors with 251 runs scored. Arizona is 2nd at 234. The team also leads MLB with a .373 on-base %.
*The Cubs have not committed an error in their last 6 games.
*With a win today, the Pirates' record would be 22-22, which would be the latest the franchise is at the .500 mark since June 11, 2005.
*The Pirates have averaged 6 runs per game in day games this year.
The I-Cubs were locked in a scoreless duel through six innings, but Round Rock broke out late to defeat Iowa, 7-1.
*2B Eric Patterson had the only multi-hit game for the I-Cubs, going 3-for-5 with a double, a run scored and a stolen base.
*Starter Sean Marshall threw 5.0 scoreless innings yielding just three hits and two walks while striking out two … he lowered his season ERA at Iowa to 1.50, but has yet to earn a decision in three starts.
*LF Matt Murton, who went 1-for-4, has hit safely in 11 of his last 13 games.
Tennessee lost 2-1 to Montgomery..
*PR-LF Matt Camp stole both second and third base in the ninth inning after being inserted into the game as a pinch-runner. He has 10 steals on the year, good for the team lead and sixth in the Southern League.
Daytona exploded for four runs in the 10th inning on their way to an 8-4 victory and a sweep of St. Lucie. The Cubs are back at .500 (21-21).
*RF Ryan Harvey went 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI, raising his season average to .308.
Peoria took the lead with a three-run top of the ninth, but Beloit responded with three runs in the bottom of the frame to hand the Chiefs a 9-8 defeat.
Cubs Starters w/ 10+ Strikeouts in Back-to-Back Games, Since 1999
June 6-7, 2003 Kerry Wood 11, Mark Prior 10
Sep 16-17, 2003 Mark Prior 13, Kerry Wood 11
Sep 21-23, 2003 Mark Prior 14, Kerry Wood 12
Aug 17-19, 2005 Carlos Zambrano 10, Mark Prior 10
June 21-22, 2007 Ted Lilly 10, Carlos Zambrano 12
May 14-15, 2008 Ted Lilly 11, Ryan Dempster 12
*Pirate outfielders have driven in 83 runs this year, topped only by the Rangers at 84.
*Tom Gorzelanny leads the majors in walks per 9 innings this year - 7.53 (29/34.2).
Some notes as the Cubs head into the weekend vs. Pittsburgh:
-The Pirates are 20-15 against everyone other than the Cubs, so this isn't a bad ballclub by any stretch.
-The Cubs will face 3 left-handed starters in this series, which means you might not see Jim Edmonds get another start until after this weekend.
-Lou is giving Kosuke the day off he wanted to give him on Sunday (as you recall, Randy Johnson was scratched late due to the weather, so Fukudome ended up playing).
-The Cubs have 4 lefties on the bench and only 1 right-handed hitter available (the backup catcher Henry Blanco). It's significant because the Pirates have 3 LH relievers. Lou says while Carlos Zambrano isn't listed on the "extras" card, he is available to pinch-hit.
-Daryle Ward is still active, although it looks like he'll end up on the DL in the next few days because of his back injury. Look for Micah Hoffpauir to replace him on the roster if/when it happens.
-The Cubs are looking more closely at what other teams' pitchers do at the plate. Lou said the Cubs advance scout will be giving the club more detailed notes on pitchers' tendencies offensively to help get them out. Cubs' pitchers are allowing the other team's 9 spot to hit .
225.
Len
Looks like Jim Edmonds is going to be a Chicago Cub. He's in town to
take a physical today and if he passes, we could see him in CF in a
Cubs uniform. Thoughts on this pending move? My take--low risk, high
reward. It won't cost the Cubs more than the prorated minimum. If it
doesn't work out, you can cut bait and move on quickly. But it has
the potential of being a worthwhile acquisition to help the Cubs from
the left side of the plate. Edmonds might not be the same player he
once was, but he still can have value. Maybe his early season
struggles were the result of just not being back all the way yet from
the calf injury. Plus, his experience could be a nice asset. My
guess is, the biggest problem some Cubs fans will have with him is
that he was a Cardinal.
Len
Iowa extended their season-high winning streak to seven games with a 5-2 victory over Portland.
RF Micah Hoffpauir drove in all five of Iowa’s runs, going 2-for-4 with a double and a three-run homer. He is 5-for-9 (.556) with a double, two homers, and nine RBI in his last two games.
Tennessee dropped a nail-biter, 3-2 in 13 innings to Huntsville..
Brevard County evened the series at one-game apiece with their 3-0 blanking of the Daytona Cubs.
RHP Marco Carillo handcuffed the Manatees through six, bringing a no-hitter into the seventh, but with one out in the seventh, Lorenzo Cain singled to right field. Carillo shut down the next two batters to end the threat.
RF James Adducci went 2-for-4, recording his 19th multi-hit affair of the season.
Peoria’s game with Quad Cities was postponed due to rain … the game will be made up as part of a doubleheader today.
Are the Cubs for real? What is the story with the Wrigley Field turnaround this year? Who sang a rough 7th inning stretch? What does opulent mean? Learn the answers to these and many other penetrating questions in this week's Len and Bob's Podcast. As always, our all-access Pod service can be downloaded to your iPod or mp3 player in the audio format, or you can watch our favorite pair via the video version. If you would like, you can watch the podcast on your computer right at your desk.
If there's any vocabulary words you'd like to add for Bob next week, just let us know.