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Note to Lou:
Next year, do not rest your freaking players. Next year, if Sori is batting .091, you put him in the back of the line up. Next year, unless Kosuke is hitting, you don't put him in the freaking game.
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However, as a true Cubs fan who knows the pain of finishing dead last and lost chances of making it all the way... CONGRATULATIONS TAMPA BAY RAYS! And congratulations to the fans fo the Rays.
You guys have had an awesome season. Well done!
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Box Score
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HBP: DeRosa (by Villanueva). Pitches-strikes: Sabathia 99-70, Villanueva 20-12, Shouse 5-3, Dempster 114-79, Howry 5-1, Cotts 5-3, Marmol 17-13, Wood 26-21. Groundouts-flyouts: Sabathia 12-4, Villanueva 1-0, Shouse 1-0, Dempster 5-4, Howry 0-1, Cotts 0-1, Marmol 0-2, Wood 0-1. Batters faced: Sabathia 30, Villanueva 4, Shouse 2, Dempster 26, Howry 2, Cotts 1, Marmol 5, Wood 6. Inherited runners-scored: Shouse 2-1, Cotts 1-0, Marmol 1-0. EjectionsMilwaukee Brewers First Base Coach Ed Sedar ejected by 1B umpire Joe West. (6th). Umpires: HP: CB Bucknor. 1B: Joe West. 2B: Ed Rapuano. 3B: Ed Hickox. Weather: 68 degrees, clear. Wind: 4 mph, Out to CF. T: 3:02. Att: 40,738. September 16, 2008 Box score official statistics approved by Major League Baseball Office of the Commissioner | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
I seriously hope either WGN or CSN will replay the game because I so want to see this game and record to save for all prosperity. Seriously folks, from the highlights I saw on ESPN, Zambrano looked awesome and looked like his old self.
According to what was said on the radio this morning, Larrry Rothschild spoke with Big Z about his pitching mechanics and apparently, Z had been throwing with his shoulder, instead of using his legs as his power source. What a change in mechanics makes, because Z just confused the Astros at the plate.
I will give the 'Stros the benefit of the doubt. It was probably a task to get out of Houston in order to travel to Miller Park in time for the game on Sunday. And my heart goes out to them and their friends in the Houston area as the region continues to recover from Hurricane Ike.
In the post-game interview, Cubs manager, Lou Piniella couldn't have been happier. They were going to lo limit Zambrano to a 100-pitch count. But there was no way Piniella was going to yank his ace.
"He had everything going from the first pitch of the ballgame," Piniella said. "You knew his arm was live and, the ball was coming out of his hand really easy."
Zambrano and the Cubs never let up. Alfonso Soriano connected for his 28th home run of the season in the first. The Cubs scored four more runs in the third. After that, it was the Zambrano show with the 22,000 plus crowed chanting "Let's Go Z!"
About the only thing that frustrated the Cubs ace was his at-bat in the seventh ininning. In most situation, the pitcher would break his bat across his team.
"I was feeling too good to do that," Zambrano said with a smirk. "I saw Lou's face. I said, 'No, not today.'"
As the game progressed, it became more apparent that something special was happening.
"I was watching the scoreboard every inning," Zambrano said. "In the ninth inning, when I came out the crowd was all crazy and that helped me a little bit. Thank God, it was the eight, nine and the leadoff hitter [in the ninth] and I was able to dominate those three guys."
The team just hoped Zambrano would give them a solid outting.
"I didn't expect it," Chicago's Derrek Lee said. "I expected him to try to give us five or six innings and get out of there. But, wow. He obviously was feeling good, throwing the ball like that. That's a huge lift for us."
"He proved he was the ace," Cubs rookie catcher Geovany Soto said. "We needed him, and he came through today."
Zambrano threw 110 pitches, striking out 10 and walking one.
With the win on Sunday, the Cubs increased their lead over the Brewers to seven-and-a-half games after the Brewers were swept by the Philadelphia Phillies. The Cubs magic number is now seven. The Brewers and the Phillies are tied for the wild card with Houston two games in back.
What's more unique about this no-hitter, is that it was played a neutral location. Hurricane Ike had already played havoc with the games on Friday and Saturday, but it became apparent on Saturday that there was no way the games could be played in Houston on Sunday. Houston Astros General Manager Drayton McLane was adament about being able to play one day after a major hurricane ravaged the Houston area.
This was the first no-hitter played a neutral site.
Miller Park is considered Wrigley North and that may have helped Zambrano along the way. Though, anyone who was there got to see history made.It's not everyday a no-hitter gets tossed.
The Cubs play the second game today at Miller Park at 2:05 p.m. (Eastern). Jason Marquis (10-8) takes the mound for the Cubs. Brian Moehler (11-6) goes to the mound for the Astros. The game can be seen on CSN. The final game (if necessary) will be played at the end of the season at Minute Maid Park.
Quotes from MLB.COM
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Either city managers in Houston told Drayton McLane he was being dellusional or common sense finally sunk in. Doesn't matter, at least two of the three games will be played at Miller Park starting at 8:05 p.m. (EDT) on Sunday.
The second game will be played at 2:05 p.m. (EDT) on Monday.
The third game has yet to be determined (more than likely, will be played at the end of the season if needed).
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Are you frakking kidding me? Galveston, along with Houston had a big huge bullseye on their heads with Ike moving in over the weekend.
Unfreaking believable.
This is what the GM of the Astros had to say:
"This could be the biggest series in the history of this season," McLane told the Houston Chronicle. "And the fans would be a tremendously inspirational force for our players. And I didn't want our players to be away from their families.
Your fans? You dumba$$. Your city just got hammered by a category 2 hurricane. Over three million people are without power. Homes have been swept out to sea. There's probably deaths and you're worried about keeping your fans happy?
Notice to Astros fans: Your GM is the biggest jerk on the face of the freaking planet.
What moron in their right mind would hold out hope that a series would be played just one day after a major hurricane.
What the hell is this world coming too.
I don't blame the Cubs for being mad. I don't blame Hendry for being pissed off. I'm pissed off.
HOUSTON---THIS IS WAR! I hope you lose the next 10 games and make the wild-card unattainable for this tom foolery! You could have swept the Cubs and hoped that Philly beat the Brewers and you'd be tied for the wild card.
But no! Your GM had to put the power of the almighty dollar in the face of human suffering. What a swell guy!
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Marshall has started three games for the Cubs this season and is their long man in the bullpen. The longest out for Samardzija was 2 1/3 innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates on August 3.
The Cubs took both games of the day-night double header on Wednesday. The Cubs won 10-2 in the first game and 8-0 in the second game. The Cubs improved to 28-30 on the road and remain 3 1/2 games atop of the Central Division over the Milwaukee Brewers.
The Cubs go for the series sweep against the Atlanta Braves Thursday at 7pm Eastern. The Cubs send Ted Lilly who looks to get his 12 win of the season to the mound against veteran Tom Glavine.
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The Cubs have a couple of options available. Jeff Samardzija could start Sunday's finale against the Marlins. The Cubs also could start Sean Marshall.
A decision is expected later in the week.
]]>Eyre pitched in a total of 19 games this season going 11.1 innings. He had a 7.15 ERA with a save and two wins.
The Eyra era at Wrigley is at an end folks. I wish Scott and his family the best and good luck in the city of Brotherly Love.
]]>Jason Marquis scrapped by with the win after giving up four runs in the top of the third. Marquis is now 7-7 with a 4.73 ERA.
The Cubs are now 8-2 for the last ten games. The Cubs have an off day on Thursday before hosting the St. Louis Cardinals for a weekend series. Lilly, Zambrano and Dempster will match up against Braden Looper, former Cub Todd Wellemeyer and the third pitcher will be announced later.
The Cubs are still atop the central division with a five game lead over the Brewers. They hold a 5.5 game lead over the Cardinals. The Cubs continue to hold the best record in the National League.
In other news, the team activated Kerry Wood on Tuesday. To make room for Wood the team designated relief pitcher Scott Eyre for assignment.
Some other stats:
Alfonso Soriano is hitting .395 with five home runs, 11 RBIs and 17 hits over the last ten games.
Mark DeRosa had a five RBI day on Wednesday. He hit his fourth career grand slam in the bottom of the third to put the Cubs ahead for good.
Derek Lee is struggling batting .268 in the last ten games. He went 0-for-4 during Wednesday's game.
Aramis Ramirez isn't fairing much better than Lee. Ramirez is batting .306 in the last ten games with 4 RBIs.
Kosuke Fukudome continues to struggle. He's batting .265 in the last ten games.
Ryan Theriot after having a productive first half, Theriot has begun a backward slide. He's batting .270 for the last ten games. He is currently batting .200 for the month of August.
Geovanny Soto continues to come out of his July slump. He's batting .333 for the last ten days. However, he's batting .235 in the last 30 days. He didn't start on Tuesday or Wednesday, giving Henry Blanco a chance to get some work in.
Jim Edmonds is earning his place on the team. If there was to be a reflection back on the season of who has contributed to the success of the 2008 Cubs, Edmonds will be at the top of the list.Edmonds is .321 for the last ten games is batting .286 for the last (near his career average) 30 days. Don't let the numbers fool you... he's on par to have an average year. And for a guy who didn't have much of a spring training, that's a good thing.
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The series proved a couple of things: CC and Sheets aren't a powerful one-two punch as many people believe. It wasn't that the Cubs bats started to come alive or that they got lucky. Both pitchers made mistakes and it cost them. It also proved that the Brewers "ain't all that" and that relying on the long ball will only get you so far when the opposing team's pitchers are on the mark.
The majority of the Cubs runs scored over the series came from hits. Thursday's game was the sole exception when Cubs hitters connected for four home runs, bringing in nine of the Cubs 11 runs..
No offense Brewer fans, solid pitching will only get you so far if your team can't get clutch hitting. Your batters looked confused. They weren't playing smart offense. And it cost you some Cubs pitching mistakes.
Rich Harden also got his first win as a Cub. And Dempster and Zambrano both improved to their records to 12-4 for the reason.
Who would have thought that the aces of the staff would be Dempster and Zambrano at this point. With Harden, who's averaged nearly 10 strikeouts a game... this makes for a deadly combination.
The Cubs came back home on Friday for an eight game home stand. The lowly Pirates who traded a way some big names in July beat the Cubs 3-0. This was the Cubs first home game shut out this season.
The Cubs remain atop the Central Division with a 4 game lead over the Brewers and Cardinals. The Brewers have a .001 advantage over the Cardinals.
In other news, the Cubs did try to trade away Jason Marquis but were unable to find a buyer. WONDER WHY?????
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