Leading AL MVP Candidate Carlos Quentin has Wrist Surgery – Live Game Chat

100 Year Itch Welcomes Back the Posts of The Wisdom Cube…Read this Rant and then Join the Game Chat Below

So Zambrano’s not the only Carlos in Chicago on the DL.  Sources say that White Sox MVP Candidate Carlos Quentin will undergo wrist surgery and miss at least 2 weeks, possibly the rest of the year.  You’re thinking, hey, who cares about the White Sox?  Well, if you wanted to know my thoughts on this, I dedicate this little song to the White Sox trolls who love to belittle the Cubs fans.  This one goes out to you guys. . .

NA NA! NA NA NA NA! HEY HEY HEY! GOODBYE!!!!!

I know this is probably bush league, but considering the amount of garbage that White Sox fans spew forth, this is justified.  Don’t dish it out if you can’t take it, right?  Anyways, if you guys need me, I’ll probably be on the ESPN boards.  Wishing the Cubs would leave Funkytown and start hitting the damn ball.  Especially if they are in Cincy, that’s a hitters park.  Bronson Arroyo is due to get lit up at least ONCE this year by our bats, right?  RIGHT?  He’s unbeaten vs. the Cubs this year!  Talk about bizzaro compared to last year when he went 0-3 with a palsy-like ERA of 8.30 I believe!  Then again, maybe the day off and some time away from Wrigley will help the bats grow fonder.  Or maybe I should stop wishfully thinking.  Be like Pacman, Cubbies, MAKE IT RAIN!

Editor’s Note…

Maybe its time we as Cubs fans should get back to being obnoxious. We have done a great job all year being nice to the trolls and the naysayers. We have maintianed our composure, and what do we get for it?? We get fucked with even more. It is September people. The Cubs are up 5 in the division, 9 up in the wild card…we are a virtual lock to make the postseason…the only thing that would prevent it is going without a win the rest of the season.

Fuck the trolls. That is all they are doing is sitting there typing and fucking with us. Responding to their lame shit just keeps them coming back…Guys like ZorChu aka Lian Vue, White Sox fans like Kokkinos, and the others…who the fuck are they, and what do they mean to us? Nothing. These guys live for the drama they create…and thats all these guys are trying to do is keep the drama going.

Lilly goes against Arroyo tonight. Arroyo is due to lose against the Cubs…just like the Cubs are due for a win. Fuck it. I will predict a win. And when it happens, I will say I told you so. I think the Brewers and the Cubs both get their heads out of their asses today. Its going to be good down the stretch.

Timely post Cube…thanks for “smacking me in the mouth to wake me up”

Live Game Chat Below

****END EDITOR RANT****

Cubs Series Streak Reaches Seven

It started with Milwaukee…it traveled back home to Chicago and consumed Pittsburgh, Houston, and St. Louis. It continued on the road to sweep Atlanta, and include Florida…now the streak has returned back home to Wrigley as the Cubs took two out of three from the Cincinatti Reds to win their seventh consecutive series. Infact the Cubs are 7-2-1 in series since the All Star Break.

Mark Derosa and Carlos Zambrano both homered for the Cubs with Zambrano picking up his13th win of the season. Kerry Wood nailed the door shut with a perfect ninth including two strikeouts for his 26th save of the year.

The Washington Nationals come to town tomorrow for a three game set. As of print time on this article, the Nats have lost 12 straight.

Series preview later in the day.

Rubber Match – Day Game v. Reds

The Cubs wasted Ted Lilly’s gem last night by not getting out of the gate. One run. On  a positive note, when the Cubs have lost, i has been these types of losses. (2-1, 3-2 et  al).

So we march forward today and seek to do what we have done Seven times since the All Star Break….win a series. If the Cubs manage to keep winning series, the rest will take care of itself.

Josh Fogg is going against Carlos Zambrano this afternoon….here is what the matchups look like

Josh Fogg 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
+-----------------+-------+---+---+--+--+--+---+---+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+---+---+---+---+---+------+-------+
 Mark DeRosa           2     1   1  1  0  0   2   1   0 1.000 1.000 2.000 3.000   0   0   0   0   0                
 Mike Fontenot         2     2   0  0  0  0   0   0   1  .000  .000  .000  .000   0   0   0   0   0                
 Kosuke Fukudome       2     2   2  1  0  0   2   0   0 1.000 1.000 1.500 2.500   0   0   0   0   0                
 Derrek Lee            2     2   2  0  0  1   1   0   0 1.000 1.000 2.500 3.500   0   0   0   0   0                
 Aramis Ramirez        2     0   0  0  0  0   0   1   0       1.000               0   0   0   1   0                
 Geovany Soto          2     2   1  1  0  0   2   0   1  .500  .500 1.000 1.500   0   0   0   0   0                
 Ryan Theriot          2     2   1  1  0  0   0   0   0  .500  .500 1.000 1.500   0   0   0   0   0                
 Reed Johnson          1     1   0  0  0  0   0   0   0  .000  .000  .000  .000   0   0   0   0   0                
 Carlos Zambrano       1     1   0  0  0  0   0   0   1  .000  .000  .000  .000   0   0   0   0   0                
+-----------------+-------+---+---+--+--+--+---+---+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+---+---+---+---+---+------+-------+

Has not faced: Henry Blanco, Ronny Cedeno, Jim Edmonds, Alfonso Soriano, and Daryle Ward & Has not faced pitchers: Neal Cotts, Ryan Dempster, Chad Gaudin, Rich Harden, Bobby Howry, Ted Lilly, Carlos Marmol, Jason Marquis, Sean Marshall, Jeff Samardzija, and Kerry Wood

 

Carlos Zambrano vs. Batters, for 2008, Min. 0 PA’s, Sorted by PA DESC, Then by Name, vs. players for CIN

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
+-----------------+-------+---+---+--+--+--+---+---+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+---+---+---+---+---+------+-------+
 Jeff Keppinger       10    10   1  1  0  0   1   0   1  .100  .100  .200  .300   0   0   0   0   0                
 Edwin Encarnacion     9     9   2  0  0  0   0   0   1  .222  .222  .222  .444   0   0   0   0   1                
 Brandon Phillips      9     9   0  0  0  0   0   0   4  .000  .000  .000  .000   0   0   0   0   0                
 Joey Votto            9     8   2  2  0  0   1   1   0  .250  .333  .500  .833   0   0   0   0   0                
 Paul Bako             5     5   0  0  0  0   0   0   1  .000  .000  .000  .000   0   0   0   0   0                
 Corey Patterson       4     4   0  0  0  0   0   0   0  .000  .000  .000  .000   0   0   0   0   0                
 Jay Bruce             3     3   0  0  0  0   0   0   1  .000  .000  .000  .000   0   0   0   0   0                
 Javier Valentin       3     3   0  0  0  0   0   0   2  .000  .000  .000  .000   0   0   0   0   0                
 Johnny Cueto          2     2   0  0  0  0   0   0   1  .000  .000  .000  .000   0   0   0   0   0                
 Aaron Harang          2     2   1  0  0  0   0   0   0  .500  .500  .500 1.000   0   0   0   0   0                
 Jeremy Affeldt        1     1   0  0  0  0   0   0   0  .000  .000  .000  .000   0   0   0   0   0                
 Josh Fogg             1     1   0  0  0  0   0   0   0  .000  .000  .000  .000   0   0   0   0   0                
+-----------------+-------+---+---+--+--+--+---+---+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+---+---+---+---+---+------+-------+

Has not faced: Jolbert Cabrera, Chris Dickerson, Ryan Hanigan, Andy Phillips, and Adam Rosales & Has not faced pitchers: Bronson Arroyo, Bill Bray, Francisco Cordero, Mike Lincoln, Gary Majewski, Nick Masset, Edinson Volquez, and Dave Weathers

The Cubs hit Fogg well….and Zambrano strikes out the Reds….Simple, brief analysis.

After his last few outings, anything is possible for Zambrano…Let’s hope he uses this game to get his focus back, and return to the fist pumping adrenelin filled Big Z that we have all come to appreciate. I will be here during the game chatting, so stop by.

Reds @ Cubs Game Two Thread

This is the preliminiary version of the live game chat that I would like to have when we get more traffic….

In the mean time…No preview….Probably a review of the first two games….Im here to chat the game so, join in the fun….Don’t let me chat with myself all night!

Back to Business – Reds @ Cubs

After a solid road trip that saw the Cubs go 5-1, the Cubs return home for the first of fix straight games at home against two cellar dwelling teams form the NL. First the Reds come to town, followed by the Nationals to close out the week.

Johnny Cueto will take on Rich Harden tonight at Wrigley. First Pitch is at 7:05 CST. The Cubs have hit Cueto fairly well this year. Specifically Theriot, Soto, and Ramirez. Harden has not faced the Reds this year, so no data is available….Advantage Harden.

Johnny Cueto 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       7     7   2  1  0  0   1   0   2  .286  .286  .429  .715   0   0   0   0   0
 Derrek Lee            7     6   2  0  0  0   2   1   0  .333  .429  .333  .762   0   0   0   0   0
 Ryan Theriot          7     7   4  1  0  0   1   0   2  .571  .571  .714 1.285   0   0   0   0   0
 Mark DeRosa           6     5   0  0  0  0   0   0   2  .000  .167  .000  .167   0   0   0   1   0
 Geovany Soto          6     5   3  1  0  1   1   1   1  .600  .667 1.400 2.067   0   0   0   0   0
 Jim Edmonds           3     3   0  0  0  0   0   0   2  .000  .000  .000  .000   0   0   0   0   0
 Mike Fontenot         3     3   0  0  0  0   0   0   2  .000  .000  .000  .000   0   0   0   0   0
 Reed Johnson          3     3   1  0  0  0   0   0   1  .333  .333  .333  .666   0   0   0   0   0
 Aramis Ramirez        3     2   1  0  0  1   1   1   0  .500  .667 2.000 2.667   0   0   0   0   1
 Alfonso Soriano       3     3   1  0  0  0   0   0   1  .333  .333  .333  .666   0   0   0   0   0
 Carlos Zambrano       3     2   0  0  0  0   0   0   0  .000  .000  .000  .000   1   0   0   0   0
 Ryan Dempster         2     2   0  0  0  0   0   0   0  .000  .000  .000  .000   0   0   0   0   1
+-----------------+-------+---+---+--+--+--+---+---+---+-----+-----+-----+-----+---+---+---+---+---+------+-------+

Has not faced: Henry Blanco, Ronny Cedeno, and Daryle Ward & Has not faced pitchers: Neal Cotts, Chad Gaudin, Rich Harden, Bobby Howry, Ted Lilly, Carlos Marmol, Jason Marquis, Sean Marshall, Jeff Samardzija, and Kerry Wood

These are the games that the Cubs seem to have trouble with from time to time (i.e. They do not always seem to beat the teams they are supposed to. This is a big chance for the Cubs to run off 5-6 wins and start to put some distance in between themselves and the Brewers. September is tough….the bigger the gap the better. Accuscore has the Cubs at a 68% favorite to take the game tonight.

Tune in later for the recap…review…or stop by during the game to chat.

Cubs Take Series from Reds

Well today wasn’t the greatest Ted Lilly outing. But on the bright side, we did score seven runs. Most of the time that’s enough to win against the Reds. But we have to look at things realistically. We weren’t going to go 162-0.

I am not too worried about one MAJOR outing by the Reds…most people are going to point to the SEVEN HRs by the REDS and take concern…but look at the reality…

Wind was blowing out, five solo shots, only the 11th home loss of the season (again we weren’t going to get 72-10 at home), Ross had only one previous HR this year, and as I previously mentioned…we still managed to get seven runs. People are calling it a rout…but realistically, it’s an aberration.

San Francisco comes to town this weekend. Ill try to preview the games unless someone wants to email me the previews.

Here’s the recaps if you need them…then come back here to post your comments…

• ESPN
• SI
• FOX