PHILADELPHIA -- Arrived in Philadelphia about 1 pm this afternoon, in plenty of time to write this preview post before leaving for Citizens Bank Park. Today is, of course, the 40th anniversary of the date that humans first set foot on the moon. In an odd coincidence, the Cubs were also playing in Philadelphia on July 20, 1969 -- they swept a doubleheader in the final day of a four-game series, during which they took three of four. Let's hope for similar success in this three-game set. The Phillies are riding an eight-game winning streak, and have also won nine of their last ten games at Citizens Bank Park. It's time to put an end to that.
It appears Jake Fox has once again impressed Lou to the point where Lou's going to get him more playing time:
"I tell you what, the guy swings the bat," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said, suggesting Fox will start in the outfield tonight against the Philadelphia Phillies, probably in place of Milton Bradley in right.
Fox has, in Lou's mind, now been promoted from "the young man" to "the guy". As far as Bradley is concerned, Lou still wants him to work on hitting from the left side:
Cubs manager Lou Piniella plans to take a turn soon at trying to solve Milton Bradley's seasonlong hitting slump from the left side of the plate that neither Bradley nor two hitting coaches have cracked.
"I had a nice talk with Bradley [Sunday]," Piniella said. "I'm going to work with him personally for a while and see if we can get him going."
That likely means benching Bradley tonight for the opener of a three-game series at Philadelphia and possibly Tuesday. The Phillies have righties scheduled both days.
Well, that's just great. One more game played this year and we will be paying $21 million in 2010 and 2011... for a platoon right fielder.
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Rodrigo Lopez -- I mean, seriously, Rodrigo Lopez? Man, the Phillies must be desperate. He hadn't pitched in the majors since 2007 when they signed him and his last good year was 2004. The last time he faced the Cubs was in 2007, when he was with the Rockies, and they hit him early and often. Now 33 years old, he has made two starts for the Phillies and pitched decently in both of them... but c'mon, he's Rodrigo Lopez. This could be a really good thing for Alfonso Soriano, who faced Lopez many times when they were both in the AL East. Soriano is 12-for-35 (.343) vs. Lopez with 3 doubles and 3 HR.
Ted Lilly was running around the outfield in Nationals Park over the weekend with seemingly no ill effects from the knee problem which pushed his start back till today. His last start vs. the Phillies was on August 30, 2008 at Wrigley Field, where he gave up three runs in six innings but the Cubs lost 5-2. Lifetime he is 1-3, 4.88 in four starts vs. the Phils. The best Philly hitter vs. Ted is Pedro Feliz (4-for-13, 2 HR).
The Cubs are back on cable today -- but the game is also being picked up by ESPN for national distribution, for those of you outside the Chicago area. For other games today see the MLB.com Mediacenter.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Please visit our SB Nation Phillies site The Good Phight.
Overflow comment threads will post today at 7 pm, 8 pm and 8:45 pm CDT.
Discuss amongst yourselves.
0 recs | 171 comments
Please win
Its about damn time we win a series against these guys.
nji232 - July 20, 2009
finally something
new to read…its been a long time since that last out yesterday….
cozmotaylor123 - July 20, 2009
What? You didn't like nutdrinkingam12's post?
chilango2 - July 20, 2009
At 4:18 that thread had 218 posts
It was beyond fun
gaclaudy - July 20, 2009
figured I would just wait to get
the lineup for real
cozmotaylor123 - July 20, 2009
It morphed into something completely different...
funny stuff
carmen_fanzone - July 20, 2009
I liked when you personally got called out for FanPost Police…cuz we all were doing that, not just you!
dtpollitt - July 20, 2009 via mobile
Everybody DOES do it
He does on every fanpost and even fanshots sometimes.
wrigleyrocker12 - July 20, 2009
EVERY one? LOL.
Hardly. Someone pays WAY too much attention to my posts.
Shall I expect a fanpost from you posting each one of my sarcastic comments to a fanpost or fanshot? I’m almost giddy with excitement.
carmen_fanzone - July 20, 2009
I take full responsibility....lol
carmen_fanzone - July 20, 2009
2 out of 3
Is good fro this series against a hot Phillies team.
wrigleyrocker12 - July 20, 2009
big game tonight
Given the pitching matchup in the Cubs’ favor, tonight is important — if for no other reason than to avoid the sweep at the hands of a hot team.
elgato - July 20, 2009
I like the matchups for all 3 games.
Harden vs. Blanton,
Z vs. Moyer.
Fishbone2 - July 20, 2009
Have you seen the Cubs play soft-tossing lefties?
Moyer is going to own us.
nji232 - July 20, 2009
Well, Maybe Z will own the Phils and the Cubs will win 2-1.
Fishbone2 - July 20, 2009
I would be thrilled with a 2-1 series win
in Philly
elgato - July 20, 2009
Philly hasn't played that well at home (22-23). I know they've won 8 in a row but...
That would be a great road trip at 6-1!
Fishbone2 - July 20, 2009
I don't
Given Harden’s inconsistency and tendency to give up the long ball, game two is problematic.
I can also see Soriano posting an 0-for-5 against Moyer.
elgato - July 20, 2009
Soriano is hitting
.220 against Moyer in his career.
nji232 - July 20, 2009
OK ...
1 for 5
elgato - July 20, 2009
I was in full support of the 0-5 theory
Soft tossing lefties abuse our hitters, I may never understand it.
nji232 - July 20, 2009
if it's
a 3-run HR, then that’s ok.
drewishdrewid - July 20, 2009
word
carmen_fanzone - July 20, 2009
Maybe Soriano gets a dayoff. Day game after a night game?
Why don’t we play the games before we get too nervous and write this series off.
Fishbone2 - July 20, 2009
Hottest team in baseball at home
The Cubs are 16-29 against them since 2002. Home run Harden going in one of the games, call me a quitter, but I don’t see much success in this series.
Of course I really hope I’m wrong.
nji232 - July 20, 2009
Gotta have faith...
I have a good feeling about this series. Hopefully it’s intense and it’s a well-played by our guys.
Fishbone2 - July 20, 2009
I can see a series win
The odds of a sweep are pretty slim.
elgato - July 20, 2009
I didn't say sweep.
I could definitely see them winning this series though.
Fishbone2 - July 20, 2009
gotcha
elgato - July 20, 2009
Quitter and...
Witness!
ballhawk - July 20, 2009
Woah woah woah woah and woah...
Really? I mean, they are good, sure… but aren’t we technically a hot team at this point too? Nationals, yeah yeah yeah… but come on… lets stay positive.
Tonight is important if for no reason other than its the first step in a second Cubbie sweep!
AndrewJStone - July 20, 2009
I stand by what I said
It’s hard to sweep a team on the road — even a team as bad as the Nationals. I’ll be positive in that I think we can win this series, but I do NOT think we will sweep.
Of course, I’d love to be wrong here.
elgato - July 20, 2009
I'm not debating that this series will be tougher than the last...
… or that tonight is the best chance for a win.
I just don’t like the “we need this game to avoid a sweep” mentality coming out before even one game of the series has been played. Especially on the heels of winning four straight and 6 of 8, even if the previous opposition was inferior to some degree.
AndrewJStone - July 20, 2009
well, I'm sorry you don't like it
But it’s my opinion. And to paraphrase Al (and others), if you don’t like it, I have others.
elgato - July 20, 2009
I also don't subscribe to the theory that MY optimism ...
has any bearing on what the Cubs actually DO.
elgato - July 20, 2009
No need for defensiveness now...
… those of all levels of optimism and / or pessimism are welcome.
The fact is, at this point speculating on a sweep is preemptive. That is all i was trying to point out.
AndrewJStone - July 20, 2009
fair enough
I just get defensive when I get labeled (implicitly or explicitly) as a pessimist. The label dredges up a lot of anger on this board.
elgato - July 20, 2009
Didn't mean to label you that way...
… and sorry if that impression was given.
AndrewJStone - July 20, 2009
we're cool
elgato - July 20, 2009
FINALLY
baseball.
drewishdrewid - July 20, 2009
My Cubbies
Are gonna outhit these has beens 2-night!! Get that broom ready Cub fans, cause were about to display an ass kicking this week!
cubsluver22 - July 20, 2009
I'm pretty sure the Cubs invented the Ted knee injury
So that he could face Philly instead of watching the Kevin Hart walk-a-thon against the best team in the NL.
nji232 - July 20, 2009
Not the most outlandish of theories
chilango2 - July 20, 2009
There isn't a question in my mind this was the case.
sloathcheck78 - July 20, 2009
I had the
Same thought earlier today.
cubbiefanTN - July 20, 2009 via mobile
except there'd be no reason to do that
it’s not like Lou couldn’t have simply said he’s shaking up his rotation a bit. They wouldn’t have to make up a story
WanderingWanderer - July 20, 2009
true
but it is more interesting this way.
sloathcheck78 - July 20, 2009
This way Lou doesn't say
I’m not wasting my best pitcher on this piece of crap team, and I don’t want my minor league starter facing the best team in the NL.
Everybody’s feelings are spared.
nji232 - July 20, 2009
Rodrigo Lopez
What tremendous head size. I thought Kevin Mench had the biggest head in baseball.
StampMe - July 20, 2009
im thinking that may just be perspective
heine41 - July 20, 2009
Yeah
I know :)
StampMe - July 20, 2009
isn't Lopez actually a float in the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade?
his picture sure looks like it. He may try to tower over us, but let’s deflate the guy tonight.
LAcarl519 - July 20, 2009
“One more game played this year and we will be paying $21 million in 2010 and 2011… for a platoon right fielder.”
The Cub way. He can join our 40 million platoon center fielder as part of an all platoon team!
MattHaggard - July 20, 2009
Maybe we bring Fuld back up, and let him hit against Righties, and have Soriano against lefties
and we’d have the three most overpaid platoons in baseball
WanderingWanderer - July 20, 2009
Let's do this Cubs!!!
I just hope Lou can help Bradley get his hitting figured out. Hope they saved some runs for tonight.
sue369 - July 20, 2009
I agree with Lou
Gameboard is not worth $21 million. I say we call it a failed experiment, eat the cash, and wish him well in his future endevors.
gaclaudy - July 20, 2009
When did Lou say this?
I agree he’s not, but Lou never said this.
CubsBullsBears - July 20, 2009
In the Lou's post
“Well, that’s just great. One more game played this year and we will be paying $21 million in 2010 and 2011… for a platoon right fielder.”
gaclaudy - July 20, 2009
That was Al comment, not Piniella's
chilango2 - July 20, 2009
Al said that...
Not Lou. If Lou said that publically, it’d be a shit storm of epic proportions.
CubsBullsBears - July 20, 2009
Sorry I stand corrected.
I get Lou and Al confused, they look sooo much alike, you know
gaclaudy - July 20, 2009
During the game
Al’s the one with his eyes open.
Clutch16 - July 20, 2009
Is that the only way to tell them apart?
gaclaudy - July 20, 2009
It's the only time they're in the same place at the same time
Otherwise, I’d have been verrrrry suspicious…
Clutch16 - July 20, 2009
Lou
doesn’t frequent 7-11.
drewishdrewid - July 20, 2009
So you're
telling me Lou just has eyes painted onto his eyelids?
gwood - July 20, 2009
I fully support your statement, but
how do you see this happening? Just benching him for two-and-a-half years?
chilango2 - July 20, 2009
DFA, anyone called for a DFA?
gaclaudy - July 20, 2009
well if he gets DFAed, then maybe we can pick him up on the cheap!
ballhawk - July 20, 2009
He would solve our problem about not having a Left handed hitter.
gaclaudy - July 20, 2009
That would continue the BCB tradition of every player DFA'd....
having a fanpost on how he fits on our roster. Or it might just blow everybody’s brains up.
carmen_fanzone - July 20, 2009
Bradely good for team
Wait didn’t cut him, but we need a Left handed batter, but he wasn’t hitting, but he could be a great RF, but he made errors this year………Brain overload…….Shutting Down……..BOOOOOM
gaclaudy - July 20, 2009
moon landing
Very questionable. I am not con vinced.
fischisgod - July 20, 2009 via mobile
It was faked!
Just like the Oswald was the lone gun man and Elvis is dead! Lies, Damned Lies
gaclaudy - July 20, 2009
Elvis IS NOT DEAD
He founded a tropical island retirement community for music stars, for after they fake their deaths to escape the spotlight.
Micheal Jackson is probably having a drink on the beach with 2Pac right now.
(Hey it makes more sense than any Moon Hoax conspiracy)
shake n bake - July 20, 2009
.....
carmen_fanzone - July 20, 2009
I think MythBusters is doing an episode on this..
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/tech/2009/07/20/dcl.myth.busters.moon.landing.cnn
AndrewJStone - July 20, 2009
sure is windy
in Nevada,,err the moon….
cozmotaylor123 - July 20, 2009
Kudos to Piniella taking the bull by the horns himself
First with Soriano and Bradley he is doing what managers and head coaches can do, determine when and where players play. Even if you are making millions even kazillions if you are not producing you are not helping the team.
Soriano is now getting entrenched in the middle third of the lineup and beginning to produce. Good and there is an uncertainty whether he might or might not be in the lineup.
As for Bradley he is taking over the hitting problem and Milton better listen. Few of you might have experienced coaching where in a competitive sport you get one-on-one work on basic mechanics and fundamentals, and being the Manager Milton had better listen or there is no place to hide. Meaning they are going to work on things and Lou will see if he is doing it. I can recall when my head coach worked on my golf swing and when I went back to my bad habits, I didn’t play.
As for Fox, Piniella is right, the kid produces when he is in there, and he is making highly paid veterans earn their keep——that is perfect.
Ivy Walls - July 20, 2009
I guess my question with Milton is....
Why the hell does he need coaching about his swing after 9 years in the majors?
carmen_fanzone - July 20, 2009
better question
Why does he need SO MUCH coaching? Perry and Joshua have already worked with him.
elgato - July 20, 2009
Carmen
Because our bodies change. Come on…you play the trumpet. Haven’t you ever changed mouthpieces?
leothelip - July 20, 2009
You're not going to give us a lecture
About Our Changing Bodies, are you? ’Cuz I got that one in the 7th grade.
Very quiet lunch hour that day…
Clutch16 - July 20, 2009
why does Tiger Woods
need a swing coach and lessons..etc..
cozmotaylor123 - July 20, 2009
Does he?
carmen_fanzone - July 20, 2009
Yes
Pre - July 20, 2009
Yes...
… and he pays dearly for them.
AndrewJStone - July 20, 2009
Didn't know that....interesting.
carmen_fanzone - July 20, 2009
I believe Butch Harmon is no longer with Tiger...
… but he was widely credited with making the extensive swing changes that brought him out of his ’98 “slump”.
Professional players all need coaching. It is why coaches exist.
I understand there are many here who hate on Bradley, but to criticize him for taking in some extra advice from those who know best in order to come out of his slump is redic.
AndrewJStone - July 20, 2009
A guy can't win...
When he’s criticized for not being willing to change anything…while also being criticized for talking with others to get help.
CubsWin!Oregon - July 20, 2009
Your body is beautiful flower...
As your body blooms, you may begin to see a change, in girls their voice becomes higher and the development of the naggin’ gene comes in affect. In boys their voice becomes deeper and the laziness genes takes affect
gaclaudy - July 20, 2009
BWAAAHAHAHAHA!
Just yesterday, I saw an educational film from the 1960s that both unnerved and amazed me for its extremely graphic content. I can’t believe they would show these films at your schools back then.
In Mexico when I was a kid, we didn’t get any images or film. It was a very puritanical talk that our parents had to attend.
chilango2 - July 20, 2009
Yes, an accomplished major league hitter would never have an extended cold streak
Good hitters are always good, just ask Papi and A-Rod.
Wreckard - July 20, 2009
When does a streak stop being a streak? 30 games? 70 games?
santoswoodenlegs - July 20, 2009
Streaks stop being streaks when they're over
I’m not sure you know what that word means. Maybe you only speak in funny pictures?
Wreckard - July 20, 2009
Are they regularly taken out of the lineup to get more coaching?
Despite your snarky reply, I’m trying to understand. This is now at least the 2nd time this year he’s had to do this. I don’t think that’s normal.
carmen_fanzone - July 20, 2009
Could we see a whole lot
of this please.
nji232 - July 20, 2009
Wow...
Last (regular) season was awesome.
Fishbone2 - July 20, 2009
That game was amazing...
I was there in the upper deck, and it was literally shaking.
CubsBullsBears - July 20, 2009
Lineup
fuky
riot
lee
rami
hoff
sori
font
hill
lilly
No Fox?!
gwood - July 20, 2009
ha!
I thought Lou might be deaking the Phillies.
elgato - July 20, 2009
Are you saying
Nutdrinkingamp12 was wrong??
gaclaudy - July 20, 2009
Oh the humanity!
chilango2 - July 20, 2009
Being the backup catcher is limiting his role for now...and it sucks.
santoswoodenlegs - July 20, 2009
Someone suggested
a while back that he could always start playing in the field and then move into catch if needed.
gwood - July 20, 2009
Yeah, but you don't want to take the chance of him getting hurt and then being down to only 1 catcher.
santoswoodenlegs - July 20, 2009
that’s true
gwood - July 20, 2009
But what if he gets hurt playing the field...
Then Hill gets hurt. Then you have a dilemma.
Fishbone2 - July 20, 2009
Not really, Marshall could catch.
santoswoodenlegs - July 20, 2009
or Marmol and Wells, since i think they were both catchers
Zakh - July 20, 2009
Lilly
could pitch and catch
gwood - July 20, 2009
Randy Wells
gwood - July 20, 2009
Pretty drastic scenario there...
But I guess it could happen.
CubsBullsBears - July 20, 2009
Why not let Fox be the starting catcher?
Just give it one full game. What’s the worst that can happen?
nji232 - July 20, 2009
BLou would make a FanPost about it.
santoswoodenlegs - July 20, 2009
I no longer want Jake Fox to catch
nji232 - July 20, 2009
You should relish the opportunity to
demonstrate your photoshopping abilities even further
gwood - July 20, 2009
I'm thinking the odds of BOTH of them getting hurt in the same game...
…is slim.
carmen_fanzone - July 20, 2009
especially when Lou doesn't play them both at the same time.
santoswoodenlegs - July 20, 2009
there's always the dangerous
stairway to the clubhouse.
drewishdrewid - July 20, 2009
also fox could be in right field
and you are less able to take him otu for defense late in the game because then you have no late inning catcher or catching replacement
all in all, its pretty stupid, the defensive dropoff from fox to the other emergency guys probably isn’t that big
BrianCesar - July 20, 2009
"I tell you what, the guy swings the bat,"...
Now go ahead and sit on the bench.
CubsBullsBears - July 20, 2009
Yep, it never fails....
Mention something about a lineup change one day. Go back to the same lineup the next.
carmen_fanzone - July 20, 2009
This is very telling:
chilango2 - July 20, 2009
Not surprised...
That he’s testy again. He makes this grand proclamation of being “back”, and then he continues to struggle.
CubsBullsBears - July 20, 2009
I find it funny
He goes 0 for 5 after he says he’s back.
wrigleyrocker12 - July 20, 2009
You have a much better sense of humor than I do
chilango2 - July 20, 2009
I wouldnt find in funny
With any other player.
wrigleyrocker12 - July 20, 2009
Fonzie said the same thing yesterday...
Uh Oh.
carmen_fanzone - July 20, 2009
well
being upset means he cares, right?
Allie - July 20, 2009
All those times he's flipped out in Cleveland, Oakland, San Diego, Texas, and Chicago....
was just because he CARED!
santoswoodenlegs - July 20, 2009
well
and the fact he’s a bit of a headcase.
Allie - July 20, 2009
Houston, Tranquility base here. The Eagle has Landed.
sanantonecub - July 20, 2009
hanging in a warehouse in AZ?
LAcarl519 - July 20, 2009
Ha. Ha.
sanantonecub - July 20, 2009
I love that it is also signed by Tricky Dicky
LAcarl519 - July 20, 2009
:)
As a random funfact, he also (IMO) has the coolest looking official presidential portrait. It’s painted by Norman Rockwell…
Whatever his (many) faults, the guy sure has an interesting biography…
CubsWin!Oregon - July 20, 2009
Man on the moon...................forty years ago
I was 20 years old and the pictures on TV were spectacular. However I was much happier with the fact that the Cubs were in 1st place and looking great. ( We all know how it turned out in ’69).
Here’s a direct quote from Lou Brock. “The Cubs, all they ever needed was a good leadoff man. If I’d been here, the Cubs would have won the pennant in ’68 and ’69.”
Is the same thing true in’09 ?
If we only had Hubbs - July 20, 2009
I don't think Lou Brock is going to be much help these days.
n/t
MN exile - July 20, 2009
Brock
Just wishful thinking. If we had somebody like him, then what was true then may be true today.
If we only had Hubbs - July 20, 2009
Time to win a series against the Phills.
CUBSfaninYANKEEcountry - July 20, 2009
Key to the game today
Lilly has to keep them off the bases via the walk. He is going to give up a homer or two in all likelihood given that band box and the caliber of hitters they have but make them solos. We can win a 5-3, 6-4 game, it gets higher than that we will have trouble.
Go Cubs
Ryanocm1 - July 20, 2009
What?!?!?!?
When you say give up a homer, you don’t mean…
wrigleyrocker12 - July 20, 2009
sacrificing Hawk Harrelson can be arranged.
no bigger homer out there. let’s give him up.
LAcarl519 - July 20, 2009
Lilly would never
Give up an earned run.
wrigleyrocker12 - July 20, 2009
Maybe it bounces off Soriano's Gourd
would that be an earned run?
Ryanocm1 - July 20, 2009
That STILL makes no sense
He would’ve just used his telekinesis to float the ball into Sori’s mitt.
wrigleyrocker12 - July 20, 2009
lilly hasnt walked a guy
in a while
jesus christos - July 20, 2009
OT:
but i’m bursting… my baby sister is pregnant!!! i’m so excited!
Allie - July 20, 2009
make a FanPost.
santoswoodenlegs - July 20, 2009
Wow that cold.
californiachicagoan - July 20, 2009
congrats
great news. All the best
Ryanocm1 - July 20, 2009
Congradulations Allie...that is awesome
Time to look for a shower present…do women give away something the equivalent of a cee gar?
Sandberg's evil twin - July 20, 2009
This will work
wrigleyrocker12 - July 20, 2009
Congrats!!
jkobus - July 20, 2009
can she hit
lefty?
drewishdrewid - July 20, 2009
Or pitch
lefty…seems to be an opening there too.
Sandberg's evil twin - July 20, 2009
or
teach MB how to hit
daily2b - July 20, 2009
You will be
a great aunt. Congrats to all!!
sue369 - July 20, 2009
lineup ...
Anybody else kinda want to see Soriano in the fifth spot? I’m not sure it’s that big a deal — but if he’s found his stroke …
elgato - July 20, 2009
if he has found his stroke
i think it would be smart for the time being to have him behind aram so he can get some good pitches to work on his timing again
jesus christos - July 20, 2009
actually, wouldn't it be more important for someone good to hit behind Soriano?
If I’m an opposing pitcher, I’m more fearful of Micah than Fontenot, although I guess Fontenot is hot right now, too.
I think hitting Soriano sixth is better for left-righty balance.
elgato - July 20, 2009
wait ...
are you agreeing with me?
elgato - July 20, 2009
i meant so aram can get good pitches, not soriano sorry
jesus christos - July 20, 2009
yeah -- I understood that too late
elgato - July 20, 2009
How's it going everyone!
heine41 - July 20, 2009
Win tonight and I feel good about taking two of three.
We landed on the moon? No way…
cubswynn - July 20, 2009
Win today and tomorrow...
And I feel VERY good about it lol
Sandberg's evil twin - July 20, 2009
If they win tonight and tomorrow
I think lots of people will feel good!
Madison Cub Fan - July 20, 2009
Good evening everybody...
Did you know Phillies spelled backwards is Seillihp?
Sandberg's evil twin - July 20, 2009
Time to...
JUMP
Chris Dobbertean - July 20, 2009
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