Where will the magic Fox-TV wizard send you today?
The Great Fox Blackout Wizard hath decreed that this day, Saturday, July 11, 2009, shall have two major league baseball games televised across the land of the United States of America.
And further decreed is that one game shall be the New York Yankees vs. the Los Angeles Angels, and thus denizens of the coastal areas of the land shall see that game. The St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs shall be visible only to those in the provinces, thusly:
Alexandria, LA; Austin, TX; Baton Rouge, LA; Biloxi, MS; Bowling Green, KY; Cedar Rapids, IA; Champaign, IL; Chattanooga, TN; Chicago, IL; Cincinnati, OH; Colorado Springs, CO; Columbia, MO; Columbus, MS; Columbus, OH; Davenport, IA; Dayton, OH; Des Moines, IA; Evansville, IN; Fort Smith, AR; Fort Wayne, IN; Grand Junction, CO; Grand Rapids, MI; Green Bay, WI; Greenwood, MS; Harlingen, TX; Houston, TX; Huntsville, AL; Indianapolis, IN; Jackson, MS; Jackson, TN; Joplin, MO; Kansas City, MO; Knoxville, TN; La Crosse, WI; Lafayette, LA; Lake Charles, LA; Lansing, MI; Lexington, KY; Lima, OH; Lincoln, NE; Little Rock, AR; Louisville, KY; Madison, WI; Memphis, TN; Meridian, MS; Milwaukee, WI; Minneapolis, MN; Monroe, LA; Nashville, TN; North Platte, NE; Oklahoma City, OK; Omaha, NE; Ottumwa, IA; Paducah. KY; Peoria, IL; Phoenix, AZ; Quincy, IL; Rochester, MN; Rockford, IL; Sioux City, IA; Sioux Falls, SD; South Bend, IN; Springfield, IL; Springfield, MO; St. Louis, MO; Terre Haute, IN; Topeka, KS; Traverse City, MI; Tucson, AZ; Tulsa, OK; Wausau, WI; Wichita, KS
As usual, the divvying up of TV markets for these games appears to have been done by monkeys throwing darts. Cities that usually get an American League game when there's one game from each league, such as Kansas City and Minneapolis, are getting the Cubs today -- but not Dallas. Houston gets the Cubs, but not San Antonio; Phoenix and Tucson get the Cubs, but not Yuma. It looks like you'll see the Cubs if you're in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas, and portions of Minnesota, Michigan, Texas, Arizona, Ohio, South Dakota and Colorado. Otherwise you're out of luck. Bizarre.
If you missed the FanShot posted by SydKyd last night, this news was buried in the recap of the Iowa Cubs' 11-5 win over Oklahoma City last night:
[Sam] Fuld was taken out of the game because he was called up by Chicago to take the roster spot of the injured Geovany Soto.
I hope he starts all three games in left field the rest of the weekend.
Also, Dave van Dyck reports in the Tribune that the Cubs have "great interest" in B.J. Ryan...
But they can't negotiate with him until Monday, once he clears waivers.
This is one signing I hope is done before the season resumes next Thursday.
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Brad Thompson was supposed to start yesterday. Then he wasn't. Then he was again. By the time yesterday's preview thread had posted, the Cardinals had chosen Chris Carpenter to throw, but I had already written this about Thompson. Thus, you get to read the Thompson preview again, since he is now (apparently) definitely starting this afternoon. He has had a couple of decent starts this year and several mediocre ones. The only current Cub to have more than a handful of AB vs. Thompson with any success is Derrek Lee (3-for-6, 2 HR). Aramis Ramirez is 0-for-6 against Thompson; maybe this would be a good day for him to sit.
Ted Lilly is 5-1, 1.96 in eight starts at Wrigley Field this year. He's faced the Cardinals once this year, on May 19 in St. Louis, threw pretty well (3 ER in 7 IP) but the Cubs got shut out. I'm not going to bother posting Ted's splits vs. Albert Pujols, because it is my opinion that they should put Pujols on every single time he comes up this weekend -- well, except maybe if the bases are loaded. On the other hand, Pujols has had 9 PA with the bases loaded so far this year. He is 6-for-8 in those 9 PA with 4 HR and 20 RBI (the non-AB was a sac fly). Maybe walking him with the bases loaded minimizes the damage. All told, though, members of the current Cardinals roster are hitting .197 (37-for-188) against Ted.
See the list above the fold for the markets carrying today's game on Fox. For other games today see the MLB.com Mediacenter.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
I was remiss yesterday in not giving a plug to our friends at the SBN Cardinals site Viva El Birdos. There are several posters there who visit BCB regularly and we always welcome them. Feel free to go over there, too -- just be nice and talk baseball.
Overflow comment threads will post today at 4:15 pm, 5:15 pm and 6 pm CDT.
Discuss amongst yourselves.
0 recs | 110 comments
Ouch..
BJ. Ryan. It’s not terrible, but…
Damen Jackson - July 11, 2009
it wouldve been better a few years ago
its a low risk, so why not give him a shot?
bren - July 11, 2009
Well,
I do see your point, but I wouldn’t go so far as calling it a low-risk move. It’s the middle of July; if you’re signing him now, you’re — barring something shocking — keeping him past the trade deadline. He is the Cubs bullpen help. That’s a roster spot taken, and probably stops the Cubs for looking harder for more capable bullpen help.
It’s a little late in the season to be taking fliers, is all I’m saying. Especially for a guy who’s looked so rough this season.
Damen Jackson - July 11, 2009
I honestly don't understand why some want Ryan
The guy can’t get people out, so don’t we have enough guys like that already?
Craig in South Bend - July 11, 2009
i also don't get it.
seems like a completely useless move.
buckmulligan - July 11, 2009
Well, he's...
a former star, with plenty of experience in high-stress innings, and reasonably healthy. Not to mention cheap. Somebody somewhere thinks that they can fix him. And besides, the league hasn’t seen him yet, so he should probably do okay for a month or two just off of that.
But yeah, he wouldn’t be my first choice; or third.
Damen Jackson - July 11, 2009
I sure hope they don't think Rottenschild can fix Ryan!!
diamondjim - July 11, 2009
thing is Sori is actually swimging better lately
Hammer - July 11, 2009 via mobile
He is? I dont get to see that many Cubs games
Heyward is the next crime dog - July 11, 2009
yep
he’s getting some hits. No power, not yet, but I still hope it will be there soon.
drewishdrewid - July 11, 2009
As long as no one throws him curve balls low and outside he should be able to hit :-)
zevkalman - July 11, 2009
he's laying off
some of those pitches. Not all of them, but some of them.
drewishdrewid - July 11, 2009
i noticed that too
and i hope now he is finally starting to realize that he needs to adjust to this. If he can learn just to do a little damage on these breaking pitches then people might go back to throwing him some heat again. I just don’t believe he had declined this quickly.
Glacier - July 11, 2009
He said in cubs.com that he will NOT change some things...
zevkalman - July 11, 2009
Here is the quote from the post on Soriano at cubs.com.
It’s weird:
zevkalman - July 11, 2009
I don't understand that.
If you are stuggling why not try something different? That’s just being stubborn.
sue369 - July 11, 2009
my god, are you his agent or something?
What hits are you referring to? The meaningless ones after he has sucked eggs with men on base when a hit would have made a difference in the game? Once and while he’s hit a bouncer that sneaks past the third baseman and down the LF line, usually when the Cubs are down by 5+ runs, there are 2 outs and no one on base. If that is what you are referring to then sure, he’s doing great.
BeltwayCubsFan - July 11, 2009
twss
Emelie - July 11, 2009
I was at the game yesterday
he wasn’t even getting solid hits in batting practice. Not sure what you are seeing in his swing. He still looks terrible to me.
tomas21 - July 11, 2009
Lansing! Woo Hoo!
Too bad my wife and I will be at a wedding and reception…
Maybe we can stop at a sports bar between the two for a few innings.
Zeke - July 11, 2009
Would it be an understatement
to call today’s game a must-win? It’s the Axe Murderer v. Brad Thompson. Advantage Cubs. Right?
TarHeelHawk - July 11, 2009
A must win in my book
Ryanocm1 - July 11, 2009
And in mine as well
Go Cubs ! ! !
JFCubFan - July 11, 2009
Well the good news is that Samuel Babson Fuld is back in the majors
Not sayin’ he will make anyplace in the MLB his home for very long, but I like the kids Fuld, Wells, Stevens, Blanco, etc. Even Shark.
zevkalman - July 11, 2009
Fuld's in the fold?
mattvegas - July 11, 2009
I say plunk Pujols on the kneecap his first time up and let's see how the Cards
do without him for a couple of months. And let’s throw a few of their other starters in there too.
Plunk. Plunk.
Kidding. Sort of.
Zeke - July 11, 2009
How old IS this Thompson kid? He looks about 12 in his picture...
Zeke - July 11, 2009
NO ZEKE....
You are just getting older faster …..
cubs north - July 11, 2009
Thanks a bunch...
…now the rest of you damn kids get off my lawn!
Zeke - July 12, 2009
looks like a chick to me
jesus christos - July 11, 2009
It would be nice to Fuld everyday....
…I am not sure you sit Soriano all weekend, but some CF/leadoff would be nice.
This team needs a spark, maybe he can provide it.
JB 23 - July 11, 2009
How do you Fuld?
j/k
LT - July 11, 2009
You gotta know when to Fuld 'em...know when to hold 'em...know when to...
zevkalman - July 11, 2009
Fulding@Home?
Craig in South Bend - July 11, 2009
for the win!
Emelie - July 11, 2009
Sold my tickets for today's game
Granted, my wife lost her job a week ago and we need all the extra cash we can get….
Free Slushees at 7/11 today guys.
chilango2 - July 11, 2009
Sorry to hear that. I know a little bit about when wives are unemployed or underemployed :-(
zevkalman - July 11, 2009
Thanks Zev
chilango2 - July 11, 2009
sorry to hear that.....
JB 23 - July 11, 2009
Thanks JB
chilango2 - July 11, 2009
Hope she finds another job soon
LT - July 11, 2009
So do we
Thanks LT
chilango2 - July 11, 2009
One door closes another opens
My wife had the same thing happen back in October. She found a job she likes 1000% better in December.
LT - July 11, 2009
Great to hear about your wife
My wife hated her co-workers but liked her job. Plus, she was handsomely compensated in a dying industry (journalism). Let’s hope she can find something soon and thanks again for your support.
chilango2 - July 11, 2009
Sorry the tix had to be sold
but I understand, been there done that. I had tickets for Cle at Cubs and had to miss the game for health reasons (luckily my step mother was happy to take him to the game for me still).
Cubbie-Tim - July 11, 2009
So sorry to
hear that. Hope she finds another job soon.
sue369 - July 11, 2009
Let's beat the Cards today...
and start to salvage this season.
Call me hopelessly naive, but I just do not believe that Soriano and Bradley will have the worst seasons of their respective careers this year. It’s understandable to mock the notion that A-Ram coming back is similar to a big midseason trade, but it’s somewhat true. We’ve been mediocre without him, surely we can make a small push with him.
Kansas25 - July 11, 2009
We HAVE to win this game...
Lilly vs. Thompson… come on. This should be a bloodbath.
Al — Lilly is 8-6, not 8-4.
kanderber - July 11, 2009
Go Ted!
big game day for Lilly … and he’ll be up for it.
and now…
BJ (Ryan) and the bear
junkhorse - July 11, 2009
Thirty years after it came out
I still can’t comprehend what possessed writers/executives/producers to film that show.
chilango2 - July 11, 2009
Drugs
Lots of them.
Also see Sid and Marty Croft.
Craig in South Bend - July 11, 2009
However, can't complain about anything with the initials BJ....just sayin'....
zevkalman - July 11, 2009
That same "possession" happens every year.
The Bill Engvall Show, for example.
mattvegas - July 11, 2009
It did give us the phrase "bring back Sheriff Lobo!" though...
so I’m torn…
chilango2 - July 11, 2009
I hope Fuld is in the lineup today.
lexmarklover - July 11, 2009
So we're relegating one of our best bats in Fox,
to backup catcher? I know Drew thinks Fox will start every third day at a position he was bad enough at that they moved him out of, but I’m not buying it.
This isn’t like the third base thing, where everyone thought he was going to be captain stone hands and he pleasantly surprised, they’ve seen him play catcher, and were completely unimpressed.
I hope I’m wrong, but if anything I think this guarantees we see Fox’s bat even less. And considering the state of our offense right now, that’s a terrible decision. Dome was doing okay at leadoff, Fox certainly can play left field at the level Soriano is currently playing it. Calling Fuld up right now, when we needed a backup catcher far more screams like more poor roster management to me.
WanderingWanderer - July 11, 2009
Poor roster management has been with us all year....
Calling Aaron Heilman to the phone! Lou wants to bring you in again!
zevkalman - July 11, 2009
I know, and I'm getting tired of it
WanderingWanderer - July 11, 2009
Yep.
I don’t think management has any clue what they’re doing. Really, they just make dumb move after dumb move. Let’s get someone else in there, huh.
buckmulligan - July 11, 2009
Fox is quoted as saying "for a game or two"
Even he realizes this is not the long term solution. But if the Cubs get up or down by 5 or 6 in the later innings, it won’t kill them to put Fox in to give Hill a few innings off.
They had an insurance policy at AAA in Mark Johnson, but he’s been hurt as well. Are you really interested in trading somebody like Jose Ascanio just to eek out a little extra defense from your backup catcher for one game each of the next four weeks?
Invalid User - July 11, 2009
By they way
why is the Cubs organization so bereft of even mediocre talent at catcher? Even Soto wasn’t supposed to be all that good until he suddenly figured it out. The Kansas City Royals, for god’s sake, had four guys on their AAA Roster that were at least serviceable backup Major league catchers. Not all stars by any stretch, or even starters for that matter, but would have been better than anything we could have called up.
WanderingWanderer - July 11, 2009
and before someone claims if I know we have very little talent at catcher
why am I bitching about the callup, I don’t think whoever we called up would have needed to play all that often. Soto get’s the lion’s share of the work at catcher, and Hill could have done the same during the injury.
WanderingWanderer - July 11, 2009
GO SAM FULD....
At least we know Sam could catch the ball. I am with you on this one Al. I don’t ever remember the Cubs defense being so bad.
cubs north - July 11, 2009
?!?!
How long have you been watching the Cubs?
I have been a fan for forty years, and the current team is not bad defensively compared to some “Flubs” of the past.
vonde6 - July 11, 2009
Thompson
Light em up!
Hammer - July 11, 2009 via mobile
light this mother f##### up
Hammer - July 11, 2009 via mobile
+100
sue369 - July 11, 2009
I am happy to have Fuld back
but is pretty stupid they could not have figured this out yesterday MORNING and not had to pull him out of a game and I ASSUME get him on a flight last night. If they were not 100% sure that Soto was going on the DL or that Fuld would take the spot they certainly thought it likely in which case they should have basically had him waiting at the airport.
It is almost like Hendry said, screw the back up catcher for the next 3 games including a double header and lets bring up a fan favorite to distract our fans from our problems.
Doggie Stalker - July 11, 2009
Good point.
zevkalman - July 11, 2009
"...lets bring up a fan favorite to distract our fans from our problems."
I hate to say I agree. And I say “I hate” because one would think this business is ran by professionals who want the best results for their bottom line.
chilango2 - July 11, 2009
Lineup per van Dyck:
Fukudome cf
Theriot ss
Lee 1b
Ramirez 3b
Soriano lf
Bradley rf
Baker 2b
Hill c
Lilly p
chilango2 - July 11, 2009
still no Blaco at SS....sigh.
santoswoodenlegs - July 11, 2009
alright, time for bradley to walk some runs in
jesus christos - July 11, 2009
I kind of like it...
CubsBullsBears - July 11, 2009
God, Yes! Let's move Fonzie UP in the order!!!
carmen_fanzone - July 11, 2009
What's the weather doing up there today?
LT - July 11, 2009
Beautiful and sunny 80 degrees
chilango2 - July 11, 2009
Sounds like weather for a
Cub win
LT - July 11, 2009
or a lost ball in the sun
santoswoodenlegs - July 11, 2009
What's the website so I can find out if the game will be broadcasted in a certain area??
Al used to post it.
dtpollitt - July 11, 2009
Try this...
here
santoswoodenlegs - July 11, 2009
meant to reply to DAN.
santoswoodenlegs - July 11, 2009
Thanks buddy. You're swell.
dtpollitt - July 11, 2009
santoswoodenlegs - July 11, 2009
MLB.com sucking yet again
The WGN broadcast is not operational!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
dfrancon - July 11, 2009
It's a National Fox Game....aka....The Blackout Special
santoswoodenlegs - July 11, 2009
Actually, I mean the radio broadcast streamed on the internet through MLB.com.
I pay for MLB.com online so I can listen to the games from Dallas, and they couldn’t get WGN up and running today. It seems to be working now (knock on wood).
dfrancon - July 11, 2009
How could Jayson Stark NOT give the first-half NL LVP to Milton Bradley! This makes me so disappointed. Milton can’t even succeed at failing, nevertheless being good.
dtpollitt - July 11, 2009
Amen
At least Rollins flashes the leather constantly.
chilango2 - July 11, 2009
And this is classic:
chilango2 - July 11, 2009
That is stupid...
I’d rather give it to sori…
bilbosbuttons - July 11, 2009 via mobile
at least, stark actually mentioned Randy Wells
every other mlb analyst decided that he wasn’t good enough for ROY
lexmarklover - July 11, 2009
The 5-9 hitters in today's lineup are all hitting south of .240
i’m guessing we will see some decent offensive innings out of 1-4 hitters, and then some very quick, ugly innings after that.
BeltwayCubsFan - July 11, 2009
But 3 of our last 5 hitters are LEFT HANDED!
santoswoodenlegs - July 11, 2009
you are right
that changes everything. Or nothing. Either way it will be interesting to see how stubborn Pinella remains about starting Fuld. Drop the next 3 and the Cubs are basically out of it, so he’s making a bold move to keep sparkplug on the bench
BeltwayCubsFan - July 11, 2009
For the bottom of our lineup.
santoswoodenlegs - July 11, 2009
a black hole.
soriano after ramirez is devastating. we have to put fox’s bat there.
buckmulligan - July 11, 2009
IBB to lee and aram to get to fonzie and buster bradley
jesus christos - July 11, 2009
This lineup sucks a lot.
lexmarklover - July 11, 2009
How so?
What would you like to see instead?
CubsBullsBears - July 11, 2009
It doesn't exactly inspire confidence
Craig in South Bend - July 11, 2009
True...
But it has the potential to be a powerful lineup, even though it seems far fetched lately.
CubsBullsBears - July 11, 2009
every lineup lou puts up has the potential to be powerful, doesnt mean it will be
jesus christos - July 11, 2009
I don't think Fuld is god
but he should start over soriano. Blanco at 2B wouldn’t be a bad idea.
lexmarklover - July 11, 2009
Watch Fuld sit the whole weekend....
because that’s the logic we’re dealing with lately….
carmen_fanzone - July 11, 2009
sadly you're right ......
lexmarklover - July 11, 2009
First pitch thread is up, peeps.
zevkalman - July 11, 2009
Ryan
Great, let’s add another bullpen pitcher who can’t throw strikes. At least Hendry will be balancing it out since the Cubs don’t have a lefty who fits that description yet.
propheteer - July 11, 2009
fox
as always here in tampa we get stuck with the yankees. yankees,red sox or devil rays and i miss my cubs.bogus.
NOMAR - July 12, 2009
ryan
is this going to another one of hendrys sign em and release em moves he,s become so famous for this season. seems like he is throwing darts hoping to hit the bullseye.
NOMAR - July 12, 2009
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