That headline isn't entirely true -- the Cubs will visit San Francisco for four games in September -- but if you blink, you might miss the Giants' only visit to Wrigley Field in 2009 (barring an unlikely postseason meeting), because between 7 pm tonight and about 4 pm tomorrow, the two teams will play both the 2009 scheduled games in Chicago.
This is fortuitous timing for the Cubs, because the Giants have apparently not yet learned how to win on the road this year. They are 10-4 at home, but only 2-7 in 2009 road games thus far; this is their first road foray outside the NL West. They were swept in San Diego and Los Angeles, and won two of three in Arizona.
And, the Cubs will apparently have an extra position player for a few days -- as Z appears headed to the DL after yesterday's hamstring pull (please. Enough discussion. It's done, let's hope he heals in 15 days), Bobby Scales will be recalled, until Friday, when Z's turn comes up again. At that time Randy Wells will likely be brought up to start vs. the Brewers. None of this is official yet, but it likely will be soon. As of now here's the only online link to this info.
There's an interesting anecdote told about Fergie Jenkins by his longtime teammate Billy Williams in Dan McGrath's article on yesterday's festivities:
"We were in Pittsburgh once and I took him fishing, up near Arnold Palmer country," Williams said. "We were out all day and got back just in time to catch the bus to the ballpark. I said to Fergie, 'Who's pitching tonight?' and he said, 'I am' ... and he went out and pitched a three-hitter."
In his book "Rob Neyer's Big Book of Baseball Legends", Rob traces many of these stories to find out whether they really happened the way the players said they did. Some did... and some didn't. (The book is fun -- highly recommended.) Anyway, I went and checked all of Fergie's starts in Pittsburgh while he and Billy were teammates. There are two possible games that come close to Billy's description of "a three-hitter". The first is this ten-inning, six-hit CG, a 2-1 Cubs win on July 15, 1968. The other is this one on September 7, 1970, a five-hitter that the Cubs won 9-2. The only problem is, that was Labor Day, and the game was the second game of a doubleheader. In those days, the Pirates scheduled morning doubleheaders on holidays that started at 10:30 am... so there's no way Fergie and Billy could have gone fishing before the game. (Billy played in both games.)
So July 15, 1968 is the likely day for Billy and Fergie's fishing trip. The game wasn't quite the way Billy remembered it, but Fergie did pitch brilliantly that night. (I checked. July 15, 1968 was, in fact, a night game at Pittsburgh.)
| Today's Starting Pitchers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Because the Cubs so rarely play the Giants, Jonathan Sanchez has only one career appearance against them -- an inning in relief in a 9-8 Cubs win on July 19, 2007. He walked Mike Fontenot in that inning. Sanchez has pitched well so far this year, but is only 1-1 despite his 2.60 ERA; the Giants have scored only 13 runs in his four starts.
Ryan Dempster has never defeated the Giants as a starting pitcher. However, all of the losses but one were in his previous incarnation as a starter with the Marlins and Reds; he started against them twice last year, getting a no-decision in a 6-5 Cubs win on July 2 at San Francisco and taking the loss at Wrigley Field on July 13 vs. Tim Lincecum. Edgar Renteria is the Giant who hits him best -- 6-for-19 (.316) with 2 homers and four walks. Dempster has to keep his walks down if he is going to get back to his 2008 performance level.
For the second time in a week, only Chicago-area viewers (and those on EI outside Bud's Blackout Areas) will be able to see the WCIU telecast. Reports from the field on whether you can see this game outside of metropolitan Chicago are again appreciated. For more games today see the MLB.com Mediacenter.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
For views from Giants fans, please visit our SB Nation Giants site, McCovey Chronicles.
Overflow comment threads will post today at 8 pm, 9 pm and 9:45 pm CDT.
Discuss amongst yourselves.
0 recs | 129 comments
And congratulations to Bobby Scales
31 years old and finally achieving his dream.
Josh Timmers - May 4, 2009
You know what that means, right?
I claim the rights to be the first to point out that he’s a 31 YEAR OLD ROOKIE!
Clutch16 - May 4, 2009
LMAO
Cubbie-Tim - May 4, 2009
A roll-call of Scales trip to the majors
1999—Idaho Falls
2000—Ft. Wayne
2001—Lake Elsinore
2002—Mobile
2003 and 2004—Mobile and Portland
2005—Portland
2006—Scranton/Wilkes-Barre
2007—Pawtucket
2008-2009—Iowa
Josh Timmers - May 4, 2009
"Think before you swing, sucka"
-That was my lame attempt at a caption-Dempster is such a ham. I love that headshot. Looks as if it was taken at JCPenney’s.
I don’t like how the NL West teams come here for just two games and the Cubs have to go out there for four. Also, the Cubs play the NL West just as much as they do the Sux. I don’t like it.
chilango2 - May 4, 2009
We love it out here!
tedinSoCal - May 4, 2009
I like getting to see my Cubs TWICE in San Diego!
The unbalanced schedule has stolen a series from me for too long!
santoswoodenlegs - May 4, 2009
Let's keep the momentum going.
Hope the bats stay hot and Demp twitches his glove to victory.
redward - May 4, 2009
Dempster needs to start delivering
We aren’t paying him $54 million to regain the nickname Dumpster.
BLou - May 4, 2009
I thought Gaudin assumed that title.
redward - May 4, 2009
no, no
Gaudin is the Dumpster Diver.
Bill Potter - May 4, 2009
That must make their interactions awkward.
redward - May 4, 2009
I would imagine so.
Bill Potter - May 4, 2009
BLou: that's a nice positive post.
Has he given up a walk (or two) yet tonight?
LAcarl519 - May 4, 2009
You're right
He gets big money and stops being good at pitching. Now that Z is out we need him to step up.
nji232 - May 4, 2009
No, but we are paying him for 2008. I don't see him having back-to-back years like 2008.
DudeVf11 - May 4, 2009
Caption idea: "This is how many pitches I'm gonna need to get you out."
I’m actually searching for the perfect Ricky Vaughn quote, but the only one that’s coming to mind is Dorn’s “Strike this MF out” line – someone else has got to be able to do better.
Clutch16 - May 4, 2009
Sanchez is due
for one of those outings where he walks people left and right and is pulled before going 5.
Here’s to hoping Dempster is due to be good.
DGU - May 4, 2009
Looks like he's been doing that all along
12 BBs in 17.1 IP.
Allie - May 4, 2009
Picture caption:
“Lifelong nerd Kevin Gregg uses advanced calculus to determine the velocity and break of his next pitch. (Not pictured: Pocket protector.)”
daver - May 4, 2009
Picture caption:
“Um, let’s see, how many people did Lou say I could walk this inning?”
DGU - May 4, 2009
You know
I think we should talk about Z’s bunt some more.
DTJchris - May 4, 2009
Yeah, why does that keep getting swept under the rug?
redward - May 4, 2009
Oh if only there was a FanPost about it
Clutch16 - May 4, 2009
No idea
DTJchris - May 4, 2009
Well, it IS the issue of the day
and should be thoroughly discussed in a pre-game thread for the benefit of those who were busy all day.
chilango2 - May 4, 2009
Can we complement it with discussions of where Lee should be batting?
Clutch16 - May 4, 2009
And since Z is on the DL, WHEN IS PEAVY ARRIVING?!?!
chilango2 - May 4, 2009
haha
Allie - May 4, 2009
Only if you'll provide a thorough statistical analysis of Derrek Lee's historical performance.
daver - May 4, 2009
And that's provided
you’ve played a high level of baseball in your life
DTJchris - May 4, 2009
I'll recreate the experience to save them the time of catching up:
1) Decide whether you think a pitcher running out a bunt is unnecessarily risky or acceptably risky.
2) Punch yourself in the beanbag until you pass out.
redward - May 4, 2009
lol
DTJchris - May 4, 2009
3.) Come to...
… and realize four more comment threads have started, stating the same inane and asinine arguments as to WHY Zambrano is a moron for running hard.
4.) Swear off BCB for the remainder of the workday.
AndrewJStone - May 4, 2009
No kidding on #4
What a bizarre discussion that turned into.
Allie - May 4, 2009
I feel like I missed out on some fun today...
neverAcquiesce - May 4, 2009
Yeah, me too . . .
gwood - May 4, 2009
It was anything but fun for a while
until SWL and Daver brought some levity.
chilango2 - May 4, 2009
Leave it to those two
:P
gwood - May 4, 2009
I don't know about today
but last night it was bizarre.
Allie - May 4, 2009
The only good thing about Z's injury
is that it’s silenced all the “bring back DeRosa” talk.
Not Bruce Froemming - May 4, 2009
but you know
if we had Wood, he could have started for Z
Cubbie-Tim - May 4, 2009
This is going to be a tough series, even if the G'ints are 2-7 on the road.
Lincecum pitches tomorrow, and he looks to be back in form.
BoVandy - May 4, 2009
I'll bring all the critics
I don’t see us beating him tomorrow.
nji232 - May 4, 2009
Why? Is your cable out?
santoswoodenlegs - May 4, 2009
Rec'd
for all the heads that will fly over.
Goodie1969 - May 4, 2009
The one thing you will notice about Sanchez...
The guy looks like he is wearing a jersey about five sizes too big. Seriously, inhis start against the Dodgers, he looked like David Byrne of Talking Heads.
Ross - May 4, 2009
"And you may ask yourself: Why such a large suit?"
“You may ask yourself: Couldn’t the suit be taken in a little?”
From SNL, when it was funny.
Clutch16 - May 4, 2009
How long ago was that?
When SNL was funny?
Allie - May 4, 2009
If you have to ask
The answer is probably “before you were born.” That skit was probably in the 1980-1981 timeframe.
Clutch16 - May 4, 2009
Yep before my time.
Allie - May 4, 2009
The mid-90's was pretty awesome for SNL
With Farley, Sandler, Myers, Rock, the guy that was in all the Farley movies, those were some great shows.
DTJchris - May 4, 2009
I miss Farley
He was a riot.
Allie - May 4, 2009
Perhaps the funniest man on the planet
I miss him too
DTJchris - May 4, 2009
In HS the guy who used to sit next to me in history
did the most hysterical Farley impression.
From one of his movies… something about his eyes being clawed out. But it was one of those things where I laughed until I fell on the ground. It was fabulous.
Allie - May 4, 2009
Oh man
The Chippendale’s dancer sketch makes me laugh until I cry.
DTJchris - May 4, 2009
Old friend of mine
Sort of resembles Farley. Get him drunk enough and he’ll do “Fat Guy in a Little Coat”. First time I saw him do it, I almost wet myself from laughing so hard.
Clutch16 - May 4, 2009
All the times we got glared at
were worth it. I can’t remember the guys name but his impression of Farley still makes me chuckle when I remember it.
Allie - May 4, 2009
I miss Phil Hartman
I think he was a lot funnier that Farley. But that’s just my taste in comedy.
chitownhawkeye - May 4, 2009
I loved him on the Simpsons
I miss the Simpsons being funny.
Allie - May 4, 2009
+1
Troy McClure and Lionel Hutz are sorely missed, and so are Simpsons circa seasons 2 through 7.
chilango2 - May 4, 2009
true dat
eswan9 - May 4, 2009
David Spade?
Awesome doing stand-up – not the best with other people’s material
Clutch16 - May 4, 2009
That's him
DTJchris - May 4, 2009
Adam Sandler?
Kinda funny the first time you see him. Not so much when his schtick wears off after about three minutes.
neverAcquiesce - May 4, 2009
Even though this'll look like I'm RickRolling you,
this is Spade and he’s OK.
chilango2 - May 4, 2009
He did an HBO special in '98
Funniest episiotomy jokes ever.
Clutch16 - May 4, 2009
I didn't recognize that word
And now I wish I’d never googled it.
Allie - May 4, 2009
Google is not always your friend.
Clutch16 - May 4, 2009
Will Rami be in the lineup tonight?
bclark89 - May 4, 2009
Tonight's Cubs lineup
Soriano, LF
Theriot, SS
Bradley, RF
Lee, 1B
Ramirez, 3B
Soto, C
Johnson, CF
Miles, 2B
Dempster, P
Bill Potter - May 4, 2009
Me likey.
Welcome back, Aramis!
daver - May 4, 2009
yep, Fukudome and Fontenot are off tonight
with the lefty Sanchez tossing.
Bill Potter - May 4, 2009
"Lefty Sanchez tossing."
That sounds dirty.
chilango2 - May 4, 2009
TWSS
bclark89 - May 4, 2009
it's not as good as on the Dan Patrick Show last week
when DP kept referring to Jamie Moyer as “salad-tossing Jamie Moyer”
Bill Potter - May 4, 2009
I've been trying to figure out a way...
…to use the word “dirty” in association with his name for the last 15 minutes.
daver - May 4, 2009
If he starts throwing beanballs
You are allowed to refer to him as “Dirty Sanchez”.
Clutch16 - May 4, 2009
Or if he slides into a base
He could also be referred to as “Dirty Sanchez”
DTJchris - May 4, 2009
When I lived in Boston
and Rey Sanchez played for the Red Sox, they used to sell t-shirts making reference to the “dirty” nickname. Since I was a college student, I had to buy one.
Bill Potter - May 4, 2009
Fontenot deserves a day off anyway
He filled in admirably at 3rd the last few days.
Allie - May 4, 2009
So does Fukudome
and maybe Theriot can get the afternoon off tomorrow.
chilango2 - May 4, 2009
Agreed
Now if we could string a few healthy days in a row, rest might actually happen!
Allie - May 4, 2009
Aside from that game in Arizona
he’s done a serviceable job over there.
Bill Potter - May 4, 2009
"Ramirez, 3B"
And there was much rejoicing.
Clutch16 - May 4, 2009
santoswoodenlegs - May 4, 2009
Is that what you get
for 1000 BCB points??
LT - May 4, 2009
No. Ramirez is Money.
santoswoodenlegs - May 4, 2009
I would expect Wells to miss his start tonight for Iowa
(or at least be on a short pitch count) – he’s the scheduled pitcher tonight, but according to Bruce Miles, he’ll be called up on Friday to start.
Bill Potter - May 4, 2009
Caption:
“Z taught me how to throw a booger ball but I keep missing my nose”
LAcarl519 - May 4, 2009
LOL. Actually, quite appropriate :-)
zevkalman - May 4, 2009
"And Gregg continues his campaign
to earn the BCB nickname ‘Lenscraft.’"
Welcome back, Rami. The left field bleachers await your balls. Yeah…
neverAcquiesce - May 4, 2009
We're all working blue tonight, huh?
chilango2 - May 4, 2009
If you're looking to follow Randy Wells
you can track his start tonight via Gameday here. My guess is he’ll be on a strict pitch count.
Bill Potter - May 4, 2009
anyone have a scouting report on wells?
amory blaine - May 4, 2009
Do a search
I’m sure Josh77 has written about him.
Allie - May 4, 2009
this isn't a scouting report
but here’s a “Get to Know Randy Wells” feature from IowaCubs.com (he’s afraid of clowns)
Bill Potter - May 4, 2009
Who isn't?
chilango2 - May 4, 2009
other clowns?
Bill Potter - May 4, 2009
Ted Lilly
DTJchris - May 4, 2009
santoswoodenlegs - May 4, 2009
That picture will haunt my dreams.
DTJchris - May 4, 2009
Ted makes clowns cry
Bill Potter - May 4, 2009
This f-ing scares the living f**k out of me
Mexican clowns are my worst nightmare.
chilango2 - May 4, 2009
wtf was that?!
DTJchris - May 4, 2009
My vision of hell
chilango2 - May 4, 2009
thanks
i really needed that (sarcasm)
Cubbie-Tim - May 4, 2009
Caption:
“You would think with theses glasses I would be able to see the strike zone better, but hey at least they make me look like I know what I’m doing”
Unique - May 4, 2009
Photo Caption:
Kevin Gregg, Cubs closer, is apparently unaware that the catcher is supposed to give the signs. Not pictured: Geovany Soto shaking him off.
Goodie1969 - May 4, 2009
Photo Caption:
I can’t find my nose and they want me to throw a strike?
tucsoncubsfan - May 4, 2009
We have a good chance to win tonight
I’ll be watching so that’s bad luck, but this might be the Giants worst pitcher. Dempster is due to reappear as his 2008 self.
nji232 - May 4, 2009
Who has a big game today?
My pick: Milton Bradley
Unique - May 4, 2009
I've been waiting all year for him to have a big game.
santoswoodenlegs - May 4, 2009
Me too.
But we’ve also waited half the year so far to be “100%”.
Unique - May 4, 2009
I call Miles getting two hits
And a walk.
Clutch16 - May 4, 2009
I'm taking D Lee
muehlman - May 4, 2009
Geo
First homer of the season tonight.
nji232 - May 4, 2009
I'll go with Soto
Bill Potter - May 4, 2009
Ramirez....book it.
santoswoodenlegs - May 4, 2009
Aramis.
He’s coming back with a bang.
kanderber - May 4, 2009
Kosuke
DTJchris - May 4, 2009
Not in lineup
chilango2 - May 4, 2009
That will be hard to do from the bench
but possible he gets a pinch hit homer.
nji232 - May 4, 2009
Damn, I guess I should pay more attention to the lineup
DTJchris - May 4, 2009
What fun would that be?
Clutch16 - May 4, 2009
TWLS
Goodie1969 - May 4, 2009
Caption:
“God, I love that smell.”
PacificCub - May 4, 2009
First Pitch thread is up!
Jump!
Clutch16 - May 4, 2009
Wooohoo put them W flags out!!
gr8 game Cubbies! sure wish I could get WCIU in Minnesota…any ideas? Other than me buying the friggin station! The MLB Channel sux. They show one batter during an actual game feed. I did get to see Theriot’s homer. We need to create a DIE HARD CUB FANS Channel. I thought WGN was a “Superstation” anyway?
LarryCubFan - May 4, 2009
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Bleed Cubbie Blue to post a comment.