For the first five years of interleague play, the Cubs and Twins alternated home-and-home series; they played three series at Wrigley Field and two in Minnesota. The Cubs won ten of the fifteen games, including a three-game sweep at Wrigley in 2001.
That's the last time the Twins visited Wrigley Field; when the teams met in Minnesota in 2006, the Twins were in the middle of an 18-1 run. The Cubs were... not so good. The Twins swept the series and outscored the Cubs 18-3.
That was then, this is now. The Cubs may be struggling, but their pitching has been, for the most part, outstanding over the last road trip. The Twins, meanwhile, have a 9-20 record away from the Metrodome, where they are playing their final season.
Actually, I admire the Twins organization. They've always made the most out of their relatively limited financial resources. That is, in fact, the reason the Cubs hired Andy MacPhail away from them back in the 1990's -- unfortunately, Andy kept his small-market mentality intact when he came to the Cubs, with predictable results. But even after his departure, the Twins kept winning, even when Tom Kelly walked away from the manager's job. The Twins have made the playoffs in four of Ron Gardenhire's seven seasons and have had only one losing year under him.
Gordon Wittenmyer's notes column today includes this, which surprises me:The Cubs are 10-3 when [Milton] Bradley doesn't play.
Also, Gordo says that Carlos Zambrano, Randy Wells and Ryan Dempster will pitch the White Sox series. They will likely face, in this order: John Danks, Gavin Floyd and Jose Contreras.
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Jessica told me I can't diss opposing pitchers any more, because look what happened yesterday with Russ Ortiz. So -- Kevin Slowey is wonderful, the best pitcher in the American League, kind to his mother, children and small animals, and cures whatever cancers Ted Lilly doesn't have time for.
In the meantime, this is his first-ever start vs. the Cubs, and he has faced only one current Cub -- Milton Bradley, who is 2-for-3 off him.
Randy Wells deserves a win one of these days; why not today? It's his first start vs. an AL team. One thing we can be pretty assured of today: no pitchers wasting time. Slowey has walked only nine in 72.2 innings and Wells only eight in 38.2. Given that the Cubs have played five extra-inning games in the last eight, that'd be a welcome change.
Today is a WGN game, but is also available on EI through FSN North and MLB.TV. For other games today see the MLB.com Mediacenter.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Overflow comment threads will post today at 2:15 pm, 3:15 pm and 4 pm CDT.
Discuss amongst yourselves.
0 recs | 124 comments
Back from vacation in Vegas
Hopefully the Cubs can help make losing 300$ a distant memory by giving us a W. Only got to watch a bit of the game on Wednesday where again, no one was hitting. Hope this great pitching no offense losses isnt the 2009 Cubs M.O.
jkobus - June 12, 2009
I leave for vegas in 5 hours
Hopefully my luck is a little better.
Wad - June 12, 2009
For a bit of amusement
head over to the SBN Twins site. They’re pretty down.
chilango2 - June 12, 2009
Beat the Twins!...or at least score more than 2 runs today, I'll consider either one progess.
santoswoodenlegs - June 12, 2009
Lineup (Incomplete..)
Soriano
Fontenot
Bradley
Lee
Reed Johnson
Fukudome
?
?
Wells
cubsnlinux - June 12, 2009
4 outfielders??
Tate491 - June 12, 2009
umm....I might have missed something on the radio
cubsnlinux - June 12, 2009
ok, here is the full deal...(a lineup with only 3 outfielders)
Soriano
Fontenot
Bradley
Lee
Soto
Fukudome
TheRiot
Miles
Wells
cubsnlinux - June 12, 2009
interesting
that Dome is down in the lineup and so is Riot.
drewishdrewid - June 12, 2009
Too bad Lou couldn't push Miles down farther.
N Oakley - June 12, 2009
Do you think he could he bat 10th?
As in after Wells, but before Soriano?
Vermont Cubs Fan - June 12, 2009
would he be leading off the lead off?
drewishdrewid - June 12, 2009
Nope.
Soriano would still be leading off.
Vermont Cubs Fan - June 12, 2009
I was thinking a position on the bench closer to Lou
N Oakley - June 12, 2009
That works too.
Probably better than batting 10th.
Vermont Cubs Fan - June 12, 2009
I was thinking he'd look good batting 8th...
IN IOWA.
AndrewJStone - June 12, 2009
Yet Soriano still remains at leadoff
Different rules for Sori than the rest of the team.
jerry morales rules - June 12, 2009
You said it Jerry!
But you might get the wrath of the masses around here.
KaliCub - June 12, 2009
sigh.
not this again.
drewishdrewid - June 12, 2009
Regardless of traditional lineup construction
which is not the point of my comment, Soriano’s production has been atrocious the past month. Other CUbs have been moved down the lineup when they struggle (Lee, Fukudome, Soto) or have been given a few days rest (Soto). I jsut don’t understand why the rules are different for Soriano. Soriano is horribly underproducing even in comparison to his past production.
jerry morales rules - June 12, 2009
I agree
Moving him out of the leadoff spot may not be an option, but sitting him for a few days wouldn’t hurt, especially if his knees are sore.
CyberCyclist - June 12, 2009
Exactly
Give him a few days off to let him heal or just a mental break. His 1 for 5’s are killing the team.
jerry morales rules - June 12, 2009
I'd be happy to sit him
But he hits way worse out of the leadoff spot.
drewishdrewid - June 12, 2009
I'd like for him to sit
but how could he possibly hit worse than what he has hit the past month or so?
jerry morales rules - June 12, 2009
I like the shakeup, got to try something different.
I won’t mention the thing I’m really in favor of, but at least the lineup is different.
KaliCub - June 12, 2009
Two words on the Milton Bradley win-loss stat:
SMALL SAMPLE
OHHHH!!
Go Cubs today! I’ll wearing out my cell phone battery trying to follow it.
daver - June 12, 2009
*I'll be
daver - June 12, 2009
The 10-3 stat
Perhaps if they put someone more productive in the #3 spot and moved Bradley down to #6 we’d win more games when he’s in the lineup.
Just saying….
ak123 - June 12, 2009
Milton Bradley is hitting .215
And people can argue about small sample sizes, but theoretically the total ABs in a typical baseball season are small enough not to provide a very high confidence level anyway.
Bottom line: our two high-priced bonus babies look like this: MB (.215) and Sori (.236)
zevkalman - June 12, 2009
I guess you're preaching to the choir zev
chilango2 - June 12, 2009
both of them
will recover and hit well this year. I believe it.
drewishdrewid - June 12, 2009
Hmm.... Define Recover
Will both wind up with season averages close to .300. I doubt it.
Will both have hot months where they are pounding the ball and average over .300, I think absolutely.
Maybe both are just waiting for summer to start in Chicago. All this April weather must be getting them down?
N Oakley - June 12, 2009
I tell you what
this cold is making me crazy. It should be 75-80 degrees!
I think they’ll both get hot and we will make a genuine run at the post-season.
drewishdrewid - June 12, 2009
Agree on both counts.
Just want them to heat up so I can enjoy this regular season as much as last year.
Close wins are so much more fun.
N Oakley - June 12, 2009
Maybe they are waiting till september / october?
Just pumpin’ / poundin’ some sunshine over here.
Don’t worry, my eyes will be fine. I’ve got rose colored glasses on.
AndrewJStone - June 12, 2009
I'm sure they will. But you know...sometimes I just prefer watching guys like Andres Blanco
or other young, low-paid kids play their hearts out. I know its silly, and I know that Sori and MB are trying, and I know they are proud professionals…but yet I really like seeing the underpaid youngsters like Wells and Blanco and KHill play hard and try to make it. That’s it…no more preaching :-)
zevkalman - June 12, 2009
I love those guys too
:)
drewishdrewid - June 12, 2009
Go get 'em, Oh!
Clutch16 - June 12, 2009
New Ballpark
I can’t believe that the new Twins ballpark is not a dome. Small market, small budget. How many snowouts do you expect annually?
StampMe - June 12, 2009
So I was
watching Baseball Tonight last night after I got back from work. At one point they did highlights from the Cubs game and it almost drove me crazy. One of the guys on the show started talking about Russ Ortiz and how he’s been “solid” for the Astros and will be a big piece of them “winning” this year. I just wanted to scream “NO! Don’t use the Cubs ineptness to think that the Astros have a good team! Argh!”
Hilary Lee - June 12, 2009
Stop watching ESPN
Doing so has done wonders for my sanity.
chilango2 - June 12, 2009
what do I watch for my sports highlighs then???
cubswgnrocks - June 12, 2009
MLBN, NFLN, NBAN, FSN, CSN
and teh Interwebz
chilango2 - June 12, 2009
Well, Ortiz has pitched
18 consecutive scoreless innings. Not all of those were against the Cubs.
Not saying that means the Astros are great, but …
Not Bruce Froemming - June 12, 2009
I see.
You really can’t argue with that stat, unfortunately.
Vermont Cubs Fan - June 12, 2009
And their Number 1 Webgem last night
was that bumbling, stumbling stupid-ass catch up the CF hill by Bourn.
JFCubFan - June 12, 2009
hows it going?
i’m friggin tired
heine41 - June 12, 2009
We're getting ready to beat Minnesota today.
How are you doing, aside from being tired?
Vermont Cubs Fan - June 12, 2009
doing ok, aside from the daunting housecleaning task i have before me
The Girlfriend’s mother and sister are coming over to meet the parent
heine41 - June 12, 2009
Good luck with that. :D
sue369 - June 12, 2009
Let's freaking get
freaking Randy freaking Wells a freakin win, OK?!?!?!?
drewishdrewid - June 12, 2009
I'd rec it 2x if I could.
N Oakley - June 12, 2009
I gave it a second rec.
Vermont Cubs Fan - June 12, 2009
Did my part.
Now if we could just get an “unrec” feature for some other less happy thoughts…
AndrewJStone - June 12, 2009
we've asked. The more emails
to SBN Support the better.
drewishdrewid - June 12, 2009
Well...
… they’ll be getting yet another shortly. Thanks Drew.
AndrewJStone - June 12, 2009
Freak yeah!
heine41 - June 12, 2009
taking bets on...
whether randy will get his first win today! 10 – 1 odds
desmoCubbie - June 12, 2009
Al, and you say you are old for blogging...
Way to stay current using the youth venacular.
KaliCub - June 12, 2009
'vernacular
KaliCub - June 12, 2009
That Al, is so current he's up to the 1990's
N Oakley - June 12, 2009
He's not frontin' on us. That's fo' sho'.
santoswoodenlegs - June 12, 2009
Al iz kewl w d kds & ain't h8ing on thR wrds.
AndrewJStone - June 12, 2009
Beat my current hometown team!
Go native city team!
Or something like that.
The Twins are not good on the road. This is an excellent chance to get some wins in the books. Just be careful with Mauer and Morneau.
MN exile - June 12, 2009
Maybe this will help
Linky
Shanghai Badger - June 12, 2009
Beats this
Linky
Clutch16 - June 12, 2009
Sadly, yours is also appropriate
Shanghai Badger - June 12, 2009
Nicely done, both of you.
n/t
MN exile - June 12, 2009
Over/Under on when Bradley goes off on Gordon Wittenmyer for that bit of statistical analysis?
santoswoodenlegs - June 12, 2009
A little visit to the press box today should shakeup this team.
KaliCub - June 12, 2009
Milton Bradley just tweeted that he is NOT angry at Wittenmeyer
zevkalman - June 12, 2009
And, yes Al
Minnesota is quite near Fargo. Just across the river, in fact.
Clutch16 - June 12, 2009
Well, part of Minnesota is
Shanghai Badger - June 12, 2009
I'm currently in Fargo
In my self-centered view of the universe, Minnesota is nearby.
Clutch16 - June 12, 2009
Semantics
Fargo is close to Minnesota, but not all of Minnesota is close to Fargo.
If the Cubs would hit the damn ball, maybe I wouldn’t focus on minutiae like that . . . .
Shanghai Badger - June 12, 2009
The Moorhead part is pretty close
The Twin Cities? Not so much.
Clutch16 - June 12, 2009
I say we take a BCB field trip to the Twins site-they have a whole 2 comments on their pregame thread
cubswgnrocks - June 12, 2009
It should be generally colder in Minnesota than in Chicago -- so why are their superstars hitting?
zevkalman - June 12, 2009
um, Dome?
KaliCub - June 12, 2009
Nah - he's on our team
Clutch16 - June 12, 2009
ISWYDT
drewishdrewid - June 12, 2009
Home grown players?
Amateur scouting?
Conscious manager?
N Oakley - June 12, 2009
Conscious manager?
Love that one.
KaliCub - June 12, 2009
Twins lineup
1. Brendan Harris, SS
2. Joe Mauer, C
3. Justin Morneau, 1B
4. Jason Kubel, RF
5. Joe Crede, 3B
6. Michael Cuddyer, CF
7. Delmon Young, LF
8. Nick Punto, 2B
9, Kevin Slowey, RHP
chilango2 - June 12, 2009
Has Mauer usually hit second?
KaliCub - June 12, 2009
Career wise...
He usually bats 3. But i am guessing the NL style lineup caused him to bat two.
HIGGY - June 12, 2009
But that would mean he would hit closer to the pitcher.
But what do I know, can’t second guess a big league manager.
KaliCub - June 12, 2009
I was trying to reason it too...
that is all i got….
HIGGY - June 12, 2009
yes
most of the season
DartmouthCubsFan - June 12, 2009
Thanks, but who is this Joe Mauer of which you speak? Or this Justin Morneau?
And why is a catcher hitting second? Even Johnny Bench used to hit 3rd or 4th.
zevkalman - June 12, 2009
See below
chilango2 - June 12, 2009
Mauer...
He has appeared in i think 35 games this season – he has not gotten a hit in 5 of those games. That is goooooooodd.
I am not going to lie, Mauer and Morneau combo is one of the top combos around.
HIGGY - June 12, 2009
As long as Brendan Harris doesn't attempt to have his revenge on the Cubs
everything should be fine.
Bill Potter - June 12, 2009
+1
eswan9 - June 12, 2009
Wow
Brendan Harris, remember when he was a highly touted prospect for us.
eswan9 - June 12, 2009
Another bit
chilango2 - June 12, 2009
i guess this is good news
don’t want to wish any one ill, but yeah….good news
heine41 - June 12, 2009
Let's supply them with the buffet table food....from last homestand.
KaliCub - June 12, 2009
MMMMM
swine flu
heine41 - June 12, 2009
H1N1
to be using the medical term
tim815 - June 12, 2009
with the same mayo
we left out since then
tim815 - June 12, 2009
That only means he goes 4-4 today.
Fishbone2 - June 12, 2009
Michael Jordan rules? flu = crazy good
N Oakley - June 12, 2009
Yessir!
Fishbone2 - June 12, 2009
"I don't know why,"
sez Lou regarding why his team isn’t scoring runs. Lovely.
chilango2 - June 12, 2009
OT: I saw yesterday that you know what a METAR is.
Do you fly?
Shanghai Badger - June 12, 2009
No
I write about aviation. Do you? It’s been my lifelong dream to learn.
chilango2 - June 12, 2009
Yep, I do. Instrument rated private pilot
Have had the “ticket” since 1999. I love it. What’s holding you back?
I’d be happy to e-mail you about it, if you like.
Shanghai Badger - June 12, 2009
$ mostly
But please do e-mail me.
chilango2 - June 12, 2009
Will do.
Shanghai Badger - June 12, 2009
Do you?
santoswoodenlegs - June 12, 2009
I don't but BLou does.
zevkalman - June 12, 2009
Global warming
KaliCub - June 12, 2009
No
But I’m not paid to know either. I have my ideas though.
chilango2 - June 12, 2009
At least we'll get a look at our future Catcher this afternoon
bren - June 12, 2009
You mean Aaron Miles?
zevkalman - June 12, 2009
Can we get this game started already?
Jimmyeatworld - June 12, 2009
Chicago Cubs Baseball is on my television
this makes me smile
heine41 - June 12, 2009
+WGN
KaliCub - June 12, 2009
hi
beat the twinkies
bye
pierzynskirules - June 12, 2009
Concise
Shanghai Badger - June 12, 2009
This guy is singing in two different keys
heine41 - June 12, 2009
JUMP
NOW!
chilango2 - June 12, 2009
Death to Milton Bradley
Or at least give us 30 million dollars
Cub Style - June 12, 2009
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