Cubs @ Braves Double Header

The Cubs are playing last nights rained out game v. the Braves in game one of a day / night double header. As I type this Jim Edmonds just hit a two run left field shot to put the Cubs up 4-0. It was Edmonds 15th HR with the Cubs in UNDER 180 ABs. This guys been on a mission!

Later tonight (7:15 EST) the Cubs do it again…We probably wont get a chance to do a preview…and even if we did, any analysis could go into the toilet as we don’t know how a double header will impact pitcher v. hitter statistics anyway (specifically, how it affects the hitter). It is wierd, there just arent a lot of double headers anymore…it seems like they happened all of the time when I was a kid, but seem to be rare these days.

So, big recap later….in the mean time, we will enjoy baseball all day.

Cubs Sweep Brewers – Take Control of Central

Five days ago the Milwaukee Brewers caught the Cubs atop the NL Central. Five days ago might as well be five weeks ago when the Brewers were 5.5 out.

No one quite knows what happened to the “hottest” team since the All Star Break. The Brewers were riding a 8-2 record coming into the Cubs series…They were coming home…all things pointed to a hotly contested series that clearly favored the Brewers with CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets pitching the first two games of the series. Instead the Cubs romped through the four game set winning all four games while scoring 31 runs to the Brewers 11.

Today was the biggest outbreak of the series as the Cubs erupted for 11 runs led by Jim Edmonds two HRs including a grand slam to rack up five RBIs. Soriano and Fukudome added long balls as well. 

Rich Harden finally got some much deserved run support in notching his first victory since his trade from Oakland. Nine more strikeouts bring his four game total to 39. He has yet to allow more than one run in any of his starts since coming over to the Cubs.

Soriano blistered the Brewers pitching in this series going 7-16. Since coming off of the DL the Cubs have gone 7-2 while “Sori” has gone 12-35, 2HRs, and 8 RBIs. He has been a clear reason that the Cubs have been able to return to their offensive ways. Inserting him back into his customary spot at leadoff and in LF and getting everyone back into their normal routine has been just what the team has needed.

Next up for the Cubs is a three game set with the remains of the Pittsburgh Pirates, who in the last week has traded away Xaivier Nady, Jason Bay, and Damaso Marte. Easy on paper – but thats why they play the games. It is the first series of a nine game home stand and a stretch in which the Cubs play 22 of their next 31 at home.

Check back later for Out of the Box Game Notes and tomorrow for Pirates previews.

Cubs @ Astros Game One Preview

Brian Moehler

Ted Lilly

Needless to say, not exactly either teams ace….toss up…w/ starters.

I say Ted Lilly does what Ted Lilly does…give up a run or two early, then settle down. Moehler, I can honestly say I have to rely on the stats. So with out further ado….

Brian Moehler vs. Batters, for 2008, Min. 0 PA’s, Sorted by PA DESC, Then by Name, vs. players for CHC

PI Click on the player name for a list of plate appearances between these players.

                    **PA**  AB  H  2B 3B HR RBI  BB  SO   BA   OBP   SLG   OPS   SH  SF IBB HBP GDP G_miss YR_miss
+-----------------+-------+---+---+--+--+--+---+---+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+---+---+---+---+---+------+-------+
 Kosuke Fukudome       3     2   1  0  0  0   0   1   0  .500  .667  .500 1.167   0   0   0   0   0
 Derrek Lee            3     3   0  0  0  0   0   0   1  .000  .000  .000  .000   0   0   0   0   0
 Aramis Ramirez        3     3   2  0  0  0   0   0   0  .667  .667  .667 1.334   0   0   0   0   0
 Geovany Soto          3     3   1  0  0  1   3   0   0  .333  .333 1.333 1.666   0   0   0   0   0
 Ryan Theriot          3     3   0  0  0  0   0   0   0  .000  .000  .000  .000   0   0   0   0   0
 Mark DeRosa           2     2   1  0  0  0   0   0   0  .500  .500  .500 1.000   0   0   0   0   0
 Jim Edmonds           2     2   1  0  0  0   0   0   0  .500  .500  .500 1.000   0   0   0   0   0
 Ted Lilly             2     1   1  0  0  0   0   0   0 1.000 1.000 1.000 2.000   1   0   0   0   0
+-----------------+-------+---+---+--+--+--+---+---+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+---+---+---+---+---+------+-------+

Has not faced: Henry Blanco, Ronny Cedeno, Mike Fontenot, Reed Johnson, and Daryle Ward & Has not faced pitchers: Neal Cotts, Ryan Dempster, Chad Gaudin, Rich Harden, Kevin Hart, Bobby Howry, Jon Lieber, Carlos Marmol, Jason Marquis, Sean Marshall, Kerry Wood, and Carlos Zambrano

 

Ted Lilly vs. Batters, for 2008, Min. 0 PA’s, Sorted by PA DESC, Then by Name, vs. players for HOU

PI Click on the player name for a list of plate appearances between these players.

                    **PA**  AB  H  2B 3B HR RBI  BB  SO   BA   OBP   SLG   OPS   SH  SF IBB HBP GDP G_miss YR_miss
+-----------------+-------+---+---+--+--+--+---+---+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+---+---+---+---+---+------+-------+
 Lance Berkman         3     3   0  0  0  0   0   0   2  .000  .000  .000  .000   0   0   0   0   0
 Michael Bourn         3     3   1  0  0  0   1   0   0  .333  .333  .333  .666   0   0   0   0   0
 Kazuo Matsui          3     2   0  0  0  0   0   1   1  .000  .333  .000  .333   0   0   0   0   0
 Miguel Tejada         3     3   1  1  0  0   0   0   1  .333  .333  .667 1.000   0   0   0   0   0
 Brad Ausmus           2     2   0  0  0  0   0   0   0  .000  .000  .000  .000   0   0   0   0   0
 Carlos Lee            2     2   1  0  0  0   1   0   0  .500  .500  .500 1.000   0   0   0   0   0
 Hunter Pence          2     2   0  0  0  0   0   0   1  .000  .000  .000  .000   0   0   0   0   0
 Ty Wigginton          2     2   1  1  0  0   0   0   0  .500  .500 1.000 1.500   0   0   0   0   0
 Brian Moehler         1     1   0  0  0  0   0   0   1  .000  .000  .000  .000   0   0   0   0   0
+-----------------+-------+---+---+--+--+--+---+---+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+---+---+---+---+---+------+-------+

Has not faced: Geoff Blum, Darin Erstad, Mark Loretta, David Newhan, and J.R. Towles & Has not faced pitchers: Brandon Backe, Dave Borkowski, Doug Brocail, Tim Byrdak, Geoff Geary, Roy Oswalt, Chad Paronto, Wandy Rodriguez, Chris Sampson, Jose Valverde, and Wesley Wright

 What does all of this mean? Well, I’m late at getting it all out. Which is why being a one man show kind of sucks sometimes.

Big game for Soto. Fukudome gets healthy against Moehler. Carlos Lee hits a HR. Edmonds continues batting well. Cubs win 7-4.

I will be more diligent, getting the info out to you sooner tomorrow…busy day today.

 

The information used here was obtained free of charge from and is copyrighted by Retrosheet.  Interested  parties may contact Retrosheet at “www.retrosheet.org“.