When the Cubs last saw the Reds, from June 5-7 in Cincinnati, the Reds were right behind the Cubs in the NL Central standings and some people were still saying they'd be contenders.
The Cubs took two of three in that June series and since June 7 the Reds are 15-23, including a 7-12 July record in which they have scored 63 runs and allowed 113 in the 19 games played. The three pitchers scheduled to start this weekend for the Reds (Aaron Harang, Johnny Cueto and Micah Owings) have a combined 8.68 ERA during July. So, this would be a real good time to get Cubs bats going, continuing what they began on the road trip just completed. Despite scoring only one run in each of the first two games in Philadelphia, the Cubs scored 38 runs in seven games (5.43 per game) on the road trip and scored ten or more runs twice. They are averaging 4.52 runs per game for the 19 games so far in July and have posted a 12-7 record this month.
Ryan Dempster's recovery is going well, but he won't start this weekend. Instead, Bruce Miles tells us, he'll go on a running program and could be slotted in vs. the Astros next Thursday. Kevin Hart will make one more start (Sunday) before Dempster's return.
Will Lou return in 2010? Here's an interesting take from the Sun-Times, which includes comments from former Cubs managers Dusty Baker and Jim Riggleman on how difficult it can be to manage the Cubs even when they're winning.
And, here are a few notes from Dave van Dyck on whether the Cubs will make any moves before the trading deadline and what those moves might be.
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Aaron Harang looks kind of sad in that photo. He should, if he's thinking about the Cubs; he's 9-6 lifetime vs. the Cubs, but with a 4.55 ERA. He did throw a nice game vs. the Cubs on April 23 at Wrigley Field, allowing seven hits and an unearned run. Derrek Lee has homered five times off him (in 49 career AB) and Aramis Ramirez has three HR off Harang (in 43 AB).
Randy Wells threw 6.2 good innings vs. the Reds in Cincinnati on June 7, but he was long gone by the time the Cubs won that game in 14 innings. He gave up six hits -- two doubles and four singles -- and two runs. A sobering reminder of how fluid the Cubs' pitching staff has been this year can be found in that boxscore -- three pitchers who were in that game (Jose Ascanio, Jason Waddell and David Patton) are no longer on the 25-man roster.
The Cubs are back on cable today, CSN Chicago and FSN Ohio. For other games today see the MLB.com Mediacenter.
Baseball-reference.com game preview
Please visit our SB Nation Reds site Red Reporter. In fact, yesterday they had a detailed post analyzing today's starter, Aaron Harang.
Overflow comment threads will post today at 2:15 pm, 3:15 pm and 4 pm CDT.
Discuss amongst yourselves.
0 recs | 207 comments
Al you should have learned by now
It seems like every time you say opposing pitchers are easy, they look like Cy Young to Cubs batters. Never assume pitchers who suck , will suck against the Cubs.
Doggie Stalker - July 24, 2009
the Karma Kontigent applauds you!
LAcarl519 - July 24, 2009
This year is Dunn ....... jk!
lexmarklover - July 24, 2009
Ugh.... Damn Cardinals
GoCubbies34 - July 24, 2009
Let's go, Cub-bies!!
BleedsbluinMI - July 24, 2009
Reds are the new Cub killers.
derv - July 24, 2009
Caption:
Are you too good for your home?!?
Clutch16 - July 24, 2009 via mobile
Lineups anyone?
I suspect our platoon RF to be out against a righty.
CubsBullsBears - July 24, 2009
Caption
So Ryan Theriot doesn’t have to be playing at short for a “doubles to shortstop” to occur.
cubsfaninatl - July 24, 2009
Lineup
CF Fukudome,
SS Theriot,
1B Lee,
3B Ramirez,
RF Bradley,
LF Soriano,
2B Fontenot,
C Hill
P Wells.
According to Muskat
desmoCubbie - July 24, 2009
I like this lineup.
cubsfaninatl - July 24, 2009
I miss Geo
CubsBullsBears - July 24, 2009
+1
When is he coming back?
cubsfaninatl - July 24, 2009
at least
two weeks, if not more.
drewishdrewid - July 24, 2009
I miss Fuld
Doggie Stalker - July 24, 2009
I miss my brain
gaclaudy - July 24, 2009
I miss Fox
santoswoodenlegs - July 24, 2009
I miss DeRosa
katie casey - July 24, 2009
I miss Steve Beuchele and Tuffy Rhodes
DKT - July 24, 2009
I miss 97 wins.
cubsfaninatl - July 24, 2009
me too :-(
sue369 - July 24, 2009
I miss the bus
Shanghai Badger - July 24, 2009
I miss chemistry
JB 23 - July 24, 2009
But not physics
And trig sucked!
Clutch16 - July 24, 2009
You know what I think can really happen, not necessarily that i want to happen
but Dan Uggla
lexmarklover - July 24, 2009
Rather have Sanchez
CubsBullsBears - July 24, 2009
Uggla is a "power bat" i guess idk
lexmarklover - July 24, 2009
we already have a power bat middle infielder with limited defensive ability.
santoswoodenlegs - July 24, 2009
Don't say theriot or Fontenot
lexmarklover - July 24, 2009
Theriot or Fontenot
Oops.
GoCubbies34 - July 24, 2009
ummm, where?
WanderingWanderer - July 24, 2009
Miles and Heilman for Brian Roberts?
desmoCubbie - July 24, 2009
And Peavy
And DeRo…
Clutch16 - July 24, 2009 via mobile
i think we can also squeeze
out Halladay from Toronto.
desmoCubbie - July 24, 2009
The Cubs definitely need to get another hitter before the deadline
The Cardinals got 2 already
Cubs and Hawks fan - July 24, 2009
WSCR reporting
Lilly getting his shoulder examined…….ughhhhhhhhhhhhh
plenz - July 24, 2009
What's the problem with his shoulder?
Cubs and Hawks fan - July 24, 2009
dunno
my guess is maybe he ghurried back with the bum knee and it affected his motion?
plenz - July 24, 2009
oh, for the love of God
katie casey - July 24, 2009
yup, I bet that is what it is....
…I mean he’s the only one who hasnt been hurt this year, why stop now?
JB 23 - July 24, 2009
you listen
to the Score? im sorry.
desmoCubbie - July 24, 2009
ok.....disregard it then
I’m just saying what I was told
plenz - July 24, 2009
That's just what we need...
…another starting pitcher out
Cubs and Hawks fan - July 24, 2009
Anyone know what the Reds lineup is today?
Cubs and Hawks fan - July 24, 2009
1 Patterson, 2 Neifi...
tomas21 - July 24, 2009
It will consist entirely of men who not to clog up the bases
Clutch16 - July 24, 2009 via mobile
*know not
Stupid early morning meetings…
Clutch16 - July 24, 2009 via mobile
Cubs magic number is 69
katie casey - July 24, 2009
that's a magic number for EVERYONE.
santoswoodenlegs - July 24, 2009
ahahaha
ndcubs - July 24, 2009
Dude!
daver - July 24, 2009
Recommended for awesomeness.
dtpollitt - July 24, 2009
Everyone rec this!
zm1217 - July 24, 2009
here goes
Ted Lilly to miss his next start with shoulder soreness per ESPN 1000 and ESPNChicago.com.
plenz - July 24, 2009
First the knee than the shoulder ?
great.
Doggie Stalker - July 24, 2009
hopefully it's just 1 start
frankly……..if Lill’s really hurt they are pretty much done
plenz - July 24, 2009
don't u wonder
if he hurt his shoulder coming back too soon from the knee?
plenz - July 24, 2009
Halliday...
Now.
CubsBullsBears - July 24, 2009
Not happening.
cubswynn - July 24, 2009
You don't say...
CubsBullsBears - July 24, 2009
gah.
drewishdrewid - July 24, 2009
Harang looks
like a meth addict
tomas21 - July 24, 2009
blah...
desmoCubbie - July 24, 2009
Will the injuries ever
stop?
desmoCubbie - July 24, 2009
it's like they're cursed or something
katie casey - July 24, 2009
what? curse?
What is this you speak of?
desmoCubbie - July 24, 2009
nothing
it’s just a rumor I heard once
katie casey - July 24, 2009
This is A-Ram's breakout game.
And the Cubs breakout game. We’re about to catch fire.
SackMan - July 24, 2009
Like as in a hot streak? Or as in they're burn to the ground?
santoswoodenlegs - July 24, 2009
Cubs will hit 3 bombs today...it will be a fun game to watch
We will get this W
Cubs and Hawks fan - July 24, 2009
Hope one is D Lee
I picked him for Beat the Streak Home Run style.
cubsfaninatl - July 24, 2009
He'll get you one
Cubs and Hawks fan - July 24, 2009
I don't concede a season...
…but the DeRosa & Holliday pick-ups really have me quite scared.
dtpollitt - July 24, 2009
also Lugo
the Cards are quite active. Meanwhile our roster has quite a few flaws, and our move has been a minor league contract with BJ Ryan
WanderingWanderer - July 24, 2009
those are HUGE
tony412 - July 24, 2009
TWHS
santoswoodenlegs - July 24, 2009
as will our not
having to face wallace 15+ times a year
tim815 - July 24, 2009
I don't feel like it changes things that much
We are still a better team if we play like we can. If we keep playing like we have been, then we wouldn’t have been able to overtake them anyway.
nji232 - July 24, 2009
i'll drink to that
tim815 - July 24, 2009
I'm sorry, but Holliday is a good player, it improves their team and makes it harder to overtake them
WanderingWanderer - July 24, 2009
any trade that unpopular on the cardinals board
makes me happy
tim815 - July 24, 2009
This is true
but how many more wins is he gonna get the Cardinals?
I just feel like if we play the way we can we win.
cubsfaninatl - July 24, 2009
Sure, MU,
but we’ve been saying that crap all season: “If we only play up to our potential!” Yeah, we are 1.5 back, but we have a lot of injuries now, and we appear hot because we swept one of the worst teams in the history of baseball in 4 games.
dtpollitt - July 24, 2009
exactly my point
The dynamic of the division changed 0 with this deal. Either the Cubs will play better, or they won’t. It seems like injuries are adding up too fast and our hitters suck. The Cardinals were the favorites by a lot of people before the trade.
nji232 - July 24, 2009
The dynamic of this division drastically changed.
We have done jack shit, and the Cardinals picked up three players: everybody’s favorite former multi-tool Cubbie, and a top 25 player.
dtpollitt - July 24, 2009
Our offense just needs moar time.
santoswoodenlegs - July 24, 2009
Cry Me A River, Justin Timberlake.
dtpollitt - July 24, 2009
♪ ♫ I'm bringin' Bradley back (YEAH!), those muthafrakkers don't know how hit (YEAH!) ♪ ♫
daver - July 24, 2009
rec'd
desmoCubbie - July 24, 2009
but the Card's achillies heel
is pitching.
Picking up more bats doesn’t necessarily fix that.
drewishdrewid - July 24, 2009
Their staff is 5th in ER.
We are 3rd.
dtpollitt - July 24, 2009
So we're better.
CubsBullsBears - July 24, 2009
5th is good though.
cubsfaninatl - July 24, 2009
Not as good as 3rd.
CubsBullsBears - July 24, 2009
True.
what is the numbers on the ERA though? dtpollitt do you have that?
cubsfaninatl - July 24, 2009
At pitching? A little.
Now compare offenses, since…you know…you have to score runs to win games too.
santoswoodenlegs - July 24, 2009
We were like 3rd worst in NL last time I checked.
dtpollitt - July 24, 2009
Just wait until Houston...
Makes a big splash.
CubsBullsBears - July 24, 2009
by getting Hallady?
santoswoodenlegs - July 24, 2009
No, Carlos Lee is going to jump naked into a pool.
daver - July 24, 2009
LOL
Doggie Stalker - July 24, 2009
That multi-tool Cubbie
is also playing with a torn sheath in his wrist. I wonder about his effectiveness over the last 2+ months.
As for Holliday, he’s good, but has looked mortal most of the year until these last three weeks. If the Cardinals channel that “magic” they had when the acquired McGwire and Edmonds years ago, yes, the Cubs are in trouble. But truthfully, I don’t see Holliday being worth too many wins to St. Louis.
Bill Potter - July 24, 2009
It changed when the Cubs stopped playing good baseball
When Aramis went down. Thats when it changed. Todays move did nothing more. If Soriano and Bradley started hitting today the Cubs would have a better lineup. Odds are they wont start hitting so really what changed?
nji232 - July 24, 2009
Will they finally put Marshall in the rotation?
katie casey - July 24, 2009
that would make sense.
so it won’t happen.
WanderingWanderer - July 24, 2009
no. lefty. in. pen.
desmoCubbie - July 24, 2009
could.call.one.up
WanderingWanderer - July 24, 2009
haha who?
waddell? not happening. BJ ryan? too early.
Try again.
desmoCubbie - July 24, 2009
Fossum had a great outing as a starter yesterday.
Check out Josh’s minor league wrap.
daver - July 24, 2009
i'd rather bring up a guy
already on the 40 man roster. atkins, prolly. is lil’s going to the dl?
tim815 - July 24, 2009
Not sure about Ted yet. Hope not.
daver - July 24, 2009
"Lil's"?
Ted’ll get you for that…
Clutch16 - July 24, 2009
don't we onl have 38 or 39 spots on the 40 man roster used up?
LAcarl519 - July 24, 2009
I wasn't aware you had an inside line to the Cubs front office
WanderingWanderer - July 24, 2009
I don't
but I do know Lou isn’t keen on moving Marshall out of the rotation, or he would have done that when Dempster went out.
desmoCubbie - July 24, 2009
by rotation, I meant bullpen
desmoCubbie - July 24, 2009
we could be getting a lengthy shark attack
nji232 - July 24, 2009
doubtful
Dempster is ready to come back Wednesday, so I am guessing Lou will just keep Hart in the rotation and move everyone up 1 day.
desmoCubbie - July 24, 2009
Doesn't that create a 3 days rest deal?
Poor Z shouldn’t have to do that again
nji232 - July 24, 2009
We had an off day yesterday.
desmoCubbie - July 24, 2009
Reds lineup:
Dickerson
Taveras
Votto
Phillips
Encarnacion
Nix
Hanigan
Gonzalez
Harang
via @johnfayman, Reds beat reporter
daver - July 24, 2009
just walk Votto every time
the rest will take care of itself
nji232 - July 24, 2009
New hot rumor from Fox Sports
The Cardinals are “close” to getting Matt Holliday from the A’s…
DKT - July 24, 2009
...is this comment serious?
desmoCubbie - July 24, 2009
Fox Sports is quick.
cubsfaninatl - July 24, 2009
done
wallace and two guys sent to oak-town
tim815 - July 24, 2009
oh, humor
my bad
tim815 - July 24, 2009
LOL
daver - July 24, 2009
Can anyone tell me
where I can find out how tough our schedule is for the rest of the year? Combined win percentage.
cubsfaninatl - July 24, 2009
ESPN.com / MLB.com and a calculator?
AndrewJStone - July 24, 2009
I was hoping there was a site someone knows about that already has it rather than doing it myself.
cubsfaninatl - July 24, 2009
anecdotally it seems not too bad, just from glancing over the schedule
have we gone out west yet this year?
cubsforever - July 24, 2009
Here's the link...
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/9847882/Sources:-Cardinals-close-to-deal-for-Holliday
The Cardinals are on the verge of acquiring outfielder Matt Holliday from the A’s, according to two major-league sources.
In return, the A’s are expected to receive third baseman Brett Wallace, right-hander Clayton Mortensen and another prospect.
DKT - July 24, 2009
LOL, dude. It's a done deal. Everybody knows.
daver - July 24, 2009
seriously...
where have you been?
dtc0405 - July 24, 2009
This was SO 10am, dude!
AndrewJStone - July 24, 2009
Sorry bout that...
I was running some errands and missed that one…
DKT - July 24, 2009
No biggie - you meant well.
daver - July 24, 2009
No prob.
I was actually playing mock post police more than being serious. Friday has me feeling weird.
AndrewJStone - July 24, 2009
I thought you were joking above...
… but um… we know. There have, in fact, been multiple fan posts.
AndrewJStone - July 24, 2009
o...you weren't joking in your previous post.
yeah it happened…awhile ago…and if you are joking…then good job, cuz you got me.
desmoCubbie - July 24, 2009
I heard they might be getting...
DeRosa too. That would really sting.
CubsBullsBears - July 24, 2009
If they get DeRosa they're gonna
pull away with this division.
cubsfaninatl - July 24, 2009
maybe lugo as well
tim815 - July 24, 2009
+1
dtc0405 - July 24, 2009
No way they get DeRo.
Mark wouldn’t do that to us.
daver - July 24, 2009
word on the street
is that Lugo is on the market!
drewishdrewid - July 24, 2009
For who though?
Maybe they’d take Duncan off their hands, but not likely.
CubsBullsBears - July 24, 2009
I doubt that would happen!
Would the Sox really DFA Lugo?
This is fun ;P
Fishbone2 - July 24, 2009
i thought lugo
was still in yewsten. along with cesar cedeno
tim815 - July 24, 2009
next thing
someone will tell us Mark Buehrle pitched a perfect game!
drewishdrewid - July 24, 2009
seattle has a team?
tim815 - July 24, 2009
I think Ronny Cedeno is their starting shortstop now.
daver - July 24, 2009
so they are AAA?
tim815 - July 24, 2009
we traded
Ronny Cedeno?
drewishdrewid - July 24, 2009
apparently
for some Notre Dame graduate.
Bill Potter - July 24, 2009
Hendry is still ironing out the deal, but word is we might get Aaron Heilman!
Go crazy, folks! Go crazy!
daver - July 24, 2009
He would really anchor the bullpen...
that’ll be huge!
dtc0405 - July 24, 2009
Anchor: A large heavy object used to restrict movement or progress.
Often tied to things to make sure they sink to the bottom of a body of water to insure drowning.
santoswoodenlegs - July 24, 2009
Sounds about right
dtc0405 - July 24, 2009
woah woah woah
next thing, you’ll tell me that we traded away Nefi Perez!
drewishdrewid - July 24, 2009
just don't trade ivan dejesus
he’s the glue that holds the team together.
tim815 - July 24, 2009
Did you hear
the Cubs won the World Series?
Fonzie2178 - July 24, 2009
Prediction: There will be a "Great War" in a few years.
Just a gut feeling.
daver - July 24, 2009
machines that fly?
unpossbile!
drewishdrewid - July 24, 2009
Yes,
and they have horseless carriages now too!
Fonzie2178 - July 24, 2009
Grog watch
baseball on magic box? How Grog do that?
drewishdrewid - July 24, 2009
what is this 'fire'
about which you speak.
that and ‘wheel’?
tim815 - July 24, 2009
was that a bang I just heard?
drewishdrewid - July 24, 2009
it was
big
tim815 - July 24, 2009
LMAO!!
gametime… Let’s go CUBS!!!
Fonzie2178 - July 24, 2009
I'm feeling optimistic about the Spiders chances to win the pennant this year!
santoswoodenlegs - July 24, 2009
if only
someone would do PBP for such a game.
drewishdrewid - July 24, 2009
Sounds like something only an idiot would do.
dtpollitt - July 24, 2009
quinn is a beast
tim815 - July 24, 2009
I'm just glad
that Jacque Jones appears to be settling into his role. The indentation halfway between the wall and 2nd base holds baseballs quite nicely.
drewishdrewid - July 24, 2009
I hope
we rough up the Mintotaur…err Harang today. Seriously, Randy Johnson is the only thing in the league keeping Aaron from being the ugliest man in baseball.
AGC - July 24, 2009
LOL - the Minotaur. That's awesome.
daver - July 24, 2009
Santo back on the air...
Welcome back Ronnie.
CubsBullsBears - July 24, 2009
CSN is interviewing
him right now. He looks good.
sue369 - July 24, 2009
Dear Cubs,
Please score first and score often today.
Thanks!
sue369 - July 24, 2009
like a running back
at a sorority dance.
drewishdrewid - July 24, 2009
or a soccer team in
a lengthy shootout
tim815 - July 24, 2009
Judd interviewing Kosuke on pregame.
This should be good.
daver - July 24, 2009
curse my lack of batteries!
drewishdrewid - July 24, 2009
TWSS
santoswoodenlegs - July 24, 2009
nice play
LAcarl519 - July 24, 2009
Was just going to post about this...
At least Judd is speaking louder. As if speaking louder would help Kosuke understand him better.
Fishbone2 - July 24, 2009
is=isn't
Fishbone2 - July 24, 2009
WTF?
“tonight you’ll be in right field”? Is this a rerun?
drewishdrewid - July 24, 2009
Has to be from Tuesday.
When Johnson got the start in cf.
Fishbone2 - July 24, 2009
That interview was not easy to follow.
daver - July 24, 2009
once again
Chad Fox is left off the DL report. Is he off the team?
Demp wants to start sunday, but the club wants him to start wednesday. I forsee a Marshall start.
drewishdrewid - July 24, 2009
Does Marshall have the arm strength at this point?
I don’t know when his start was, so I wonder if he can go 70-80 pitches if need be.
Bill Potter - July 24, 2009
lou will yank him
when a righty comes up
tim815 - July 24, 2009
so sad.
Bill Potter - July 24, 2009
Lou will remove him first
LAcarl519 - July 24, 2009
Maybe its b/c he's on the 60 day?
Allie - July 24, 2009
was he moved to the 60 day?
he wasn’t on the 60 day before because he doesn’t accrue his service time that way. I wonder if he got his ten years.
drewishdrewid - July 24, 2009
huh
i have no idea… i was just assuming.
its been a really long day already. sorry
Allie - July 24, 2009
Cubs.com still lists him on the 40-man roster and on the 15-day DL
SouthernCub - July 24, 2009
I think the comments about scrutiny and pressure are legitimate...
…it should be taken in to account in hiring the next manager. Perhaps hiring an ex-Cubs player who has experienced it first hand to a degree (assuming they are qualified in other areas as well). Or hiring someone who has won in a similar cursed environment, e.g., Boston?
I recall Telander on the radio years ago when Dusty was still here, commenting that he thought Dusty never understood what he was getting into in terms of media and fan scrutiny, i.e., that Dusty seem unprepared and unable to deal with it. I also recall Bayless indicating that Dusty was a poor choice because he likely wouldn’t deal well with the criticism he’d face daily in Chicago.
DudeVf11 - July 24, 2009
Have a bone to pick with the preview article...
Playing against bad pitchers does not “get the bats going”. All it does is fool the manager into thinking our slumping hitters “are back” or the ones who shouldn’t be on the team in the first place are “major league talent”.
Jerry Mumphrey - July 24, 2009
To expound on the point..
If guys like Soriano and Bradley need to get ABs against pitchers with ERAs in the 6’s to go along with extra time in the cage with multiple batting coaches in order to learn how to hit again, they need to go down to AAA, period.
Jerry Mumphrey - July 24, 2009
CHICAGO CUBS BASEBALL IS ON THE AIR!
drewishdrewid - July 24, 2009
OT: Sandberg is on XM right now
Says he’s become good friends with Bob Gibson and his wife because of the Hall of Fame festivities. They go out for dinner and drinks 2-3 times a year. Interesting.
Bill Potter - July 24, 2009
Has no one said this yet?
JUMP!
Clutch16 - July 24, 2009
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