The rainout last night readjusts the rotation:
Carlos Zambrano will start on Friday night at Cincinnati in the opener of a three-game series, and Ryan Dempster will be pushed back to Saturday.
Sean Marshall, who had been scheduled to pitch on Saturday, will go to the bullpen, and Randy Wells will start on Sunday as scheduled.
I've been an advocate of keeping Marshall in the rotation, though I know someone will have to go when Rich Harden comes back. However, right now with the pen in turmoil, maybe having someone like Marshall there will help stabilize it. Marshall will still likely have to make a start or two during the 23-consecutive-day stretch forced by last night's rainout. In this way, maybe he could become what Terry Mulholland was to the 1998 Cubs, a guy who could switch back and forth between the bullpen and starting and be valuable in both roles.
Speaking of Harden, he will have a rehab start at Iowa on Sunday and if all goes well he'll return to the rotation next Friday vs. the Twins at Wrigley Field. That Bruce Miles article also has encouraging news about Aramis Ramirez:
Third baseman Aramis Ramirez, who may be out for at least another month with a dislocated left shoulder, reportedly will begin "baseball activities" this weekend in Cincinnati. Ramirez hurt himself diving for a groundball in Milwaukee on May 8.
So, everything appears on schedule for A-Ram, who was hurt four weeks ago and is with the team in Cincinnati tonight. This should still keep him on target for a return after the All-Star break.
Lineup for tonight via Twittermyer:
Soriano, lf; Theriot, ss; Fukudome, cf; Lee, 1B; Hoffpauir, rf; Fontenot, 3B; Hill, c; Blanco, 2b; Zambrano, p
Can you stand a little more Mark DeRosa talk? No, this isn't about reacquiring him, though the question is asked in Nick Friedell's interview with DeRo.
And, Geovany Soto is getting a "mental break". Geo and Lou had a meeting yesterday:Soto met with Piniella for nearly 20 minutes before batting practice on Thursday. The closed-door talk included a little hitting demonstration, with the manager leaving his office briefly to get a bat.
That provoked Z into yelling out into the clubhouse that Lou was going to "hit" Soto and there would be "big news in the paper tomorrow!" It was just a hitting demonstration:
"We were talking to Geo a little bit about using his front arm a little more, as opposed to being so back-sided," Piniella said.
| Today's Starting Pitchers | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Cubs actually catch a break with the rainout, despite now having to play on 23 straight days; they miss seeing Jair Jurrjens, a tough pitcher, and can instead face Micah Owings, a guy they beat handily at Wrigley Field on April 21. That day featured the first-ever homer by a Micah off a Micah, as Hoffpauir went deep on Owings; he gets the start tonight in RF. Oddly, the only other Cub to have homered off Owings is Aaron Miles, who is on the DL and won't play tonight. Owings has walked a lot of hitters this year (27 in 54.2 innings), so waiting him out seems the thing to do.
Z also catches a break; his lifetime record vs. the Braves is poor, but against the Reds he's 14-10, 3.05 lifetime. The Reds did beat him on April 23 at Wrigley Field, but the 7-1 score of that game is misleading; Z left when the Cubs trailed only 3-1 and the bullpen made it worse. With Joey Votto (8-for-20 vs. Z) on the DL, none of the other current Reds really hit him well.
Tonight's game is on cable only in the Chicago and Cincinnati areas. For other games today see the MLB.com Mediacenter.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Overflow comment threads will post today at 7 pm, 8 pm and 8:45 pm CDT.
Discuss amongst yourselves.
0 recs | 153 comments
My first Cubs game in a few days!
Glad I missed the bad ones….
zevkalman - June 5, 2009
outstanding!
have a great time
MJMars - June 5, 2009
Micah Owings
LIGHT ’EM UP!
MJMars - June 5, 2009
As you wish...
zevkalman - June 5, 2009
a ridiculous stat-based lunatic question
what is the cubs all-time record versus pitchers who the cubs drafted, but didn’t sign with the cubs?
tim815 - June 5, 2009
False?
daver - June 5, 2009
Let's go Cubbies!!
cubsluver22 - June 5, 2009
5th
Chanman25 - June 5, 2009
I'm looking for the Cubs to shell Owings tonight.
Bricks and Ivy - June 5, 2009
you would shell 'casings'
you would…..hmmmmm….what would you do with owing?
tim815 - June 5, 2009
s
tim815 - June 5, 2009
Please win
with the Cards and Brewers trading losses all week we need to up the ante against the Reds and jump over them in the standings. Every day we stay close is another day closer until we are healthy.
mrcubsfan - June 5, 2009
Only 2 back in the loss column...
Behind STL and MIL. A series win here would be nice.
CubsBullsBears - June 5, 2009
And GO BRAVES GO this weekend.
Tommy Hanson makes his ML debut vs. Milwaukee tomorrow.
Al Yellon - June 5, 2009
jair jurrgens
clap-clap-clap/clap/clap
tim815 - June 5, 2009
I really know nothing of this Tommy Hanson guy.
Never actually heard of him before this week, frankly.
dtpollitt - June 5, 2009
Apparently
he’s some sort of uber prospect.
i’d never heard of him before a few weeks ago.
Allie - June 5, 2009
Not quite that high
the uber prospect title is owned by Stephen Strasburg.
Hanson is going to be good though. 4 pitches that are above-average and solid command. He does short-arm the ball though. Could lead to some injuries, but until then, he should be awesome.
MJMars - June 5, 2009
Apparently he has two brothers...
…and the three of them sing together wonderfully.
daver - June 5, 2009
and starred in slapshot
tim815 - June 5, 2009
the same Z we always get:
a passionate, highly-skilled and flawed human being who will do almost anything he can to win a ball game.
That’s what Zambranos do best. HOO-HOO-HOO-HOOOOOO!
drewishdrewid - June 5, 2009
I thought they cleaned the ice during a hockey game.
daver - June 5, 2009
no no no
they blend into the herd well.
drewishdrewid - June 5, 2009
certainly one of the best 'hitting pitchers' matchups of the year
Not many pitchers used as pinch hitters like Z and Owings are
BeltwayCubsFan - June 5, 2009
Alas Owings is a better hitter than Z
I worry that everyone seems overconfident about beating him. Here’s hoping.
Doggie Stalker - June 5, 2009
Hope we get the
Z that brings his “A” game. Leave the theatrics in the clubhouse.
sue369 - June 5, 2009
See Sue,
Lou agrees with you that Soto is too back sided these days. :)
N Oakley - June 5, 2009
He looks like one of those rap guys' girlfriends.
Allie - June 5, 2009
I like big butts and I can not lie
You other brothers can’t deny
That when a girl walks in with an itty bitty waist
And a round thing in your face
You get sprung, wanna pull out your tough
‘Cause you notice that butt was stuffed
Deep in the jeans she’s wearing
I’m hooked and I can’t stop staring
Oh baby, I wanna get with you
And take your picture
My homeboys tried to warn me
But that butt you got makes me so horny
Ooh, Rump-o’-smooth-skin
You say you wanna get in my Benz?
Well, use me, use me
‘Cause you ain’t that average groupie
I’ve seen them dancin’
To hell with romancin’
She’s sweat, wet,
Got it goin’ like a turbo ‘Vette
I’m tired of magazines
Sayin’ flat butts are the thing
Take the average black man and ask him that
She gotta pack much back
So, fellas! (Yeah!) Fellas! (Yeah!)
Has your girlfriend got the butt? (Hell yeah!)
Tell ’em to shake it! (Shake it!) Shake it! (Shake it!)
Shake that healthy butt!
Baby got back!
drewishdrewid - June 5, 2009
I really hope you copy/pasted that
if you typed that from memory any respect for you just evaporated.
Allie - June 5, 2009
On the contrary...
…my respect for Drew would triple if he could do that from memory.
daver - June 5, 2009
and what's three times
a very small amount, class? :P :P :P
drewishdrewid - June 5, 2009
+9x
Cubbie-Tim - June 5, 2009
I have
an encyclopedic memory, but no, I don’t know past the eighth line there.
drewishdrewid - June 5, 2009
Just lookin' for a nice place to rest a drink...
and that shelf will do.
N Oakley - June 5, 2009
I saw that on CTL tonight. :D
sue369 - June 5, 2009
Twittermyer says...
… makeup game for last night to be played at 6:10 pm CDT on June 22.
Al Yellon - June 5, 2009
I assume the lineup is correct except that dome will be playing cf?
joeschmitt - June 5, 2009
Yes.
Mistyped. Dome in CF. I’ll fix it.
Al Yellon - June 5, 2009
nope....
dome has to play right to cover the ground that Hoff can’t….. :P
tootle - June 5, 2009
I'm hella bored
Please somebody direct me towards something fun on the Internet or something. Thank you kindly.
chilango2 - June 5, 2009
I got nuthin' for ya
I’m just hoping for baseball tonight… rain outs suck.
Allie - June 5, 2009
I found some really salacious photos of Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi
and his naughty entourage. If I owned Italy, I’d do the same. Good for him.
chilango2 - June 5, 2009
http://tinyurl.com/lxz92a
drewishdrewid - June 5, 2009
Very clever
chilango2 - June 5, 2009
You could check out the stats for my favorite player of the moment...
at baseball-reference.com.
AndrewJStone - June 5, 2009
He wasn't very good
but that matters very little. (oh I’m so punny…)
chilango2 - June 5, 2009
Just Google a vaguely dirty-sounding word.
Or a not-so-vaguely sounding one.
daver - June 5, 2009
If you're at work
I’d advise against that one
Allie - June 5, 2009
That's true.
Or at least don’t actually click on any of the results.
daver - June 5, 2009
if you're really bored
see my useless question near the top
regarding cubs record against….
above
tim815 - June 5, 2009
Lotso Good links and info in this preview Al..
Thanks again for a job well done. By the way, I’ve been meaning to ask, is this a paid gig for you, a volunteer gig, or somewhere in between? You do a bang-up job.
DisCUBbobulated - June 5, 2009
Thanks for the compliment.
This is a labor of love. Yes, I do make a small amount of money, not nearly enough to quit my day job.
Al Yellon - June 5, 2009
Ok Cubs fans, LET'S GET A W!
CUBSfaninYANKEEcountry - June 5, 2009
With Votto out of the lineup...
…and Evil Micah on the mound for the Reds, this game feels winnable. I hope I don’t regret typing that. The Cubs and Reds are currently tied in the loss column, so the Cubs could lay claim to the glory that is third place with a strong series in Cincy.
daver - June 5, 2009
Votto has been a Cub-killer since he came to the major leagues.
I cannot say I am unhappy that he’s on the DL.
Al Yellon - June 5, 2009
Looks like we'll also miss...
…Harang and Cueto. I could really use a road series win against a divisional opponent.
daver - June 5, 2009
another
Micah vs Micah moment coming up. Several, probably.
drewishdrewid - June 5, 2009
Or, hopefully, not...
… after the Cubs knock Owings out in the third inning.
Al Yellon - June 5, 2009
gotta give the Hoff
at least two chances at him.
The Hoff demands it.
drewishdrewid - June 5, 2009
I hate games that feel "winnable"
Esp against not very good pitchers.
This team seems to hate those.
Allie - June 5, 2009
My thoughts exactly.
That game against Kawakami seemed imminently winnable, too – even before the Cubs staked Randy Wells to a 5-0 lead. But…but…I’m over it, really. It’s ancient history. Not still on my mind at all.
daver - June 5, 2009
If it'd been just that
game… I’d get over it.
But I can think of at least 4 off the top of my head that have felt like “we should win this one just on talent”… only to score 1 run and look like idiots.
Allie - June 5, 2009
there's always games like that
I can think of games from last year that did the same thing.
drewishdrewid - June 5, 2009
Like, for example, the two in Pittsburgh in late May.
Al Yellon - June 5, 2009
Hmmm.
The Sun >>>>>>>> The Fonz
heine41 - June 5, 2009
oooooh
shiny
tim815 - June 5, 2009
There was a Saturday game in there that went into extra innings
if I’m not mistaken, and that because Woody blew the save. They ended up losing that in the 11th I think.
Craig in South Bend - June 5, 2009
I know
Allie - June 5, 2009
I saw THE HANGOVER @ midnight...
…and it was excellent. If Old School, Knocked Up, Superbad, etc. are your flavor of movie, you’re going to love it. I know none of these are going to win any awards, but Hangover will produce plenty of t-shirt quotes and years of repeated viewings. I probably haven’t laughed that hard since I saw BORAT in theatre.
And, as for the game, one item of note. Jurrjens is starting against the Brewers tonight (with Gallardo going for the Suds), so we can actually cheer for Jair tonight. Could be a full game pick-up if Atlanta plays well behind their pitcher. Great pitching duel for those two teams.
Dan
dtpollitt - June 5, 2009
saw a really long trailer for it last night
totally going to have to find a way to the theatre for that. Looks fabulous.
Allie - June 5, 2009
+1 on your sig, Allie...
… when i read that, it made me feel a tiny bit happier about life.
AndrewJStone - June 5, 2009
I love Simmons
:-)
Allie - June 5, 2009
His podcasts are usually really solid
I end up listening to those more than I read his articles.
Craig in South Bend - June 5, 2009
I read that, and thought...
…“Well, you wouldn’t have thought that 6 years ago, would have you, Bill?” Before two Sox championships and a Celtics title, I’m sure he wouldn’t have thought that. In fact, Bill Simmons is probably the LAST person that should be commenting on failing in sports; all of his teams have won titles (and two of them, multiple titles) within the last decade.
dtpollitt - June 5, 2009
Really?
He’s proof that it happens. That hanging on and continuing to be a fan is worth it.
At least, thats MHO.
Allie - June 5, 2009
He could comment on this EPIC FAIL.
Goodie1969 - June 5, 2009
Yet another positive outcome from the rainout.
Al Yellon - June 5, 2009
Hurray Rain!
heine41 - June 5, 2009
Thank God
I’m checking this out this weekend. This was originally something that was going to be worked into my bachelors party/night out type deal, but I have no idea when that’s going down, so peeping this with a few friends will be just fine if the flick is funny.
Craig in South Bend - June 5, 2009
Good Evening everyone
I hate unscheduled off days, But I’m hearing that we are going to play for the next 23 straight days? I thought we had every monday off in June
heine41 - June 5, 2009
Hey heine
sue369 - June 5, 2009
hey sue
heine41 - June 5, 2009
Looking for a good Win today
After that rainout I feel like I really need to watch baseball. Hoping to see the good Z out there today.
OT – Heading to Vegas on sunday for my 21st birthday week celebration, anyone got suggestions on things I have to do/see?
jkobus - June 5, 2009
Errr, don't see THE HANGOVER before you go.
dtpollitt - June 5, 2009
Really?
We were planning to go see it tomorrow night before we left early in the morning.
jkobus - June 5, 2009
Seems like a bad omen.
dtpollitt - June 5, 2009
If I get to see Mike Tyson singing
I will die a happy man.
jkobus - June 5, 2009
Ooooh, they do much worse with Mike Tyson.
Just you wait.
dtpollitt - June 5, 2009
I was just there and I'm gonna be there again next 2 weeks too....(for work)
There’s a good place to eat and watch the Cubbies in Summerlin if you are interested.
zevkalman - June 5, 2009
You're spending a week in Vegas?
Holy crap, sounds exhausting.
Craig in South Bend - June 5, 2009
They're young
Allie - June 5, 2009
your not that much older Allie
Madison Cub Fan - June 5, 2009
LOL
but a week in vegas would probably kill me. or i’d die of boredom. i don’t drink. i don’t really like to gamble and i’m nightblind so all the “nightlife” stuff doesn’t interest me at all.
Allie - June 5, 2009
I went to vegas this last year twice for work.
Was out there a week each time, damn near killed me
heine41 - June 5, 2009
I'm 28
and still consider myself to be young. I know for a fact I couldn’t spend a week in Vegas. Not unless on my first day I hit the jackpot and could ride out a full week.
Craig in South Bend - June 5, 2009
33 and never been to Lost Wages
Cubbie-Tim - June 5, 2009
34 was there once for 3 days...
didn’t enjoy it for a variety of reasons
Madison Cub Fan - June 5, 2009
i have no interest
except to see Hoover Dam
Cubbie-Tim - June 5, 2009
Which is impressive
heine41 - June 5, 2009
Almost 31...
and have yet to make it.
Chris Dobbertean - June 5, 2009
I'm 35
and I still want to get there, just to see it. Plus, i’d like to see Penn and Teller
chitownhawkeye - June 5, 2009
It's all about Celine Dion
Craig in South Bend - June 5, 2009
Just 3 full days
Get in Sunday, leave Wed night.
jkobus - June 5, 2009
3 days sounds about right
If you’re going to be going to clubs, hit up Pure. You can get in easy at night if you go early in the day and get a bracelet then, or get what I think is called a bottle pass. It’s over $100, but it includes some drinks, and given that one mix drink is about $12, if you can split it up with friends, you’re guaranteed to get in later on at night.
Craig in South Bend - June 5, 2009
Thanks
We will have to check out Pure.
jkobus - June 5, 2009
i'd suggest going and seeing KA if you can
its kick ass
heine41 - June 5, 2009
I'll bet Sue got a charge out of Lou's comment about Geo being so "back-sided'!
willie mays hayes' gloves - June 5, 2009
I did. :D
sue369 - June 5, 2009
hi Sue
Cubbie-Tim - June 5, 2009
That's why I posted it!
Al Yellon - June 5, 2009
espn is scrolling
fausto carmona got demoted to rookie legue team.
no link
tim815 - June 5, 2009
Send Carmona to rookie ball, activate Hafner
Allie - June 5, 2009
thanks, allie
running on next to no sleep
tim815 - June 5, 2009
yuck
why no sleep? sleep is good!
Allie - June 5, 2009
ESPECIALLY
when done with a friend!!!
heine41 - June 5, 2009
TW.....
Cubbie-Tim - June 5, 2009
depends on the friend *giggling evilly*
Madison Cub Fan - June 5, 2009
truth
heine41 - June 5, 2009
The was a line
It may have been crossed
Craig in South Bend - June 5, 2009
Yeah
I’d say so.
Allie - June 5, 2009
Err, there was a line
Craig in South Bend - June 5, 2009
Eh
the line was getting fuzzy around here anyway. :-P
Allie - June 5, 2009
apologies
heine41 - June 5, 2009
Not offended
Don’t worry. Was just ribbing ya. Still, it was unexpected, so points for that I guess.
Craig in South Bend - June 5, 2009
Yay!
Four more points and I can finally get that BCB keychain
heine41 - June 5, 2009
I hear they use lead paint on those
I’d wait to get the BCB mini basketball
Craig in South Bend - June 5, 2009
I do need one for my office
heine41 - June 5, 2009
apolgies also
Madison Cub Fan - June 5, 2009
I apologize too
Craig in South Bend - June 5, 2009
hey he apologized.... so I thought that I should also since
I took a step further
Madison Cub Fan - June 5, 2009
I was doing it
because everyone else was :)
Craig in South Bend - June 5, 2009
LOL
I just bored.
Madison Cub Fan - June 5, 2009
The new SBN update is the reason every other word is clickable in posts now, correct?
I like that it is an auto-feature (I’ll ignore the fact that BR is the best place to go for player data), but it’s somewhat confusing when half the links are just to player or team data, and the others are actual links Al has provided for readers.
dtpollitt - June 5, 2009
its nice letting the post
be auto-linked, saves a lot of time and effort. Thing to be careful about is matching names, example: today in mine Tim Raines linked to his son, not the father whom I was commenting about. It did not give me an option, so i had to check it and change it.
Cubbie-Tim - June 5, 2009
LETS GO CUBBIES
Cubbie-Tim - June 5, 2009
Here's a tid bit:
No link, but I’ve been reading that STL is moving pieces around on their roster, and might be going after Holliday to protect Albie…
Jimmyeatworld - June 5, 2009
Good. Let 'em. He's a free agent after 2009, and he's already making $13.5M this year.
I hope they send some pieces over to the A’s and deplete their farm system a bit. I can’t see the Cardinals trying to re-up a guy that’s gonna command a huge contract.
dtpollitt - June 5, 2009
Like Albert Pujols?
heine41 - June 5, 2009
Yeah, but you pay that kinda money to Pujols
I’m not so sure if Holliday would also be worth that
Craig in South Bend - June 5, 2009
I don't know HOW they are going to pay that money to Pujols
especially due to lower ticket sales this year…
heine41 - June 5, 2009
They'll have to find a way
I don’t know how you let someone like him go
Craig in South Bend - June 5, 2009
keep in mind
possible home discount
Cubbie-Tim - June 5, 2009
True
but even that… he’s albert pujols… half off regular market value isn’t cheap.
Allie - June 5, 2009
true
Cubbie-Tim - June 5, 2009
exactly, and I dont think the cardinals can afford that
and if they do, it would handcuff them as far as the rest of the team is concerned
heine41 - June 5, 2009
I just have a feeling AP is going to persue the $$$$$
unless the Cards far in the Playoffs next year
heine41 - June 5, 2009
depends
he may want to avoid the big market pressure (NY, BOS, CHI) and want to stay in St Louis.
Cubbie-Tim - June 5, 2009
thats possible, but unlikely IMO
heine41 - June 5, 2009
Albert Pujols is the best player in baseball.
I don’t consider Matt Holliday to be in the top 10, nevertheless the top 12 or 15.
dtpollitt - June 5, 2009
JIMMY
Cubbie-Tim - June 5, 2009
TIMMY!
Jimmyeatworld - June 5, 2009
JUMP
http://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2009/6/5/899859/first-pitch-thread-cubs-vs-reds#comments
sue369 - June 5, 2009
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Bleed Cubbie Blue to post a comment.