Presumably, it was a joke, but Lou threatened to not use the bullpen at all when Z next started when Carlos complained about being pulled too early in his last outing:
Piniella, who told Carlos Zambrano six days ago he'd let him throw 200 pitches today: "We're going to send the bullpen over to the firehouse."
Notwithstanding the humor in thinking of the idea of Aaron Heilman trying to put out real fires (he has a hard enough time with the baseball ones), Z needs to tone his act down and just pitch. It's one day after the one-year anniversary of his no-hitter and since then Z has been decidedly mediocre; in 26 starts since the no-no, he is 8-7 with a 4.36 ERA. There has been much debate about whether Z is really the "ace" of the Cubs staff on this site. However, of this there is no doubt: if the Cubs do want to finish the season strong and pull off their baseball miracle, excellent performances from Carlos Zambrano would be nearly mandatory.
Among all the player moves made by Jim Hendry since the 2008 season ended, one that got little attention was the waiving of Casey McGehee. McGehee never had overwhelming numbers in the minor leagues, but he did play several positions and could, at least, have provided some competition in spring training. I don't think anyone could have guessed that McGehee would be hitting .304/.370/.517 in over 300 plate appearances in the major leagues this year, with a 131 OPS+ and a chance to get some Rookie of the Year votes. He also started 20 games at second base for the Brewers this season and would have looked just fine filling in for Aramis Ramirez when he was out. To get absolutely nothing in return for him is a real statement that the Cubs didn't know what they had. Clearly, there was unrecognized talent that the Brewers were able to bring out.
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Yovani Gallardo defeated the Cubs and Ryan Dempster on May 9 at Miller Park; the final score of 12-6 didn't indicate how well the starters did in that game, as most of the Brewers damage was off Cub relievers, two of whom are no longer with the team. Current Cubs are hitting .320 (16-for-50) off Gallardo.
Carlos Zambrano has a pair of no-decisions vs. Milwaukee this year with a 2.77 ERA in 13 innings. Lifetime he's 10-8, 3.57 in 25 appearances (24 starts) vs. the Brewers. New Brewer Felipe Lopez has hit him well in the past (14-for-39, 2 HR), and so has Prince Fielder (12-for-32, 5 doubles, 2 HR).
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Once again, just two overflow threads today -- 8:15 and 9:15 pm CDT. If there's a need for another one, please post as a FanShot.
Discuss amongst yourselves.
0 recs | 74 comments
Lineup, per Wittenmyer:
chilango2 - September 15, 2009
Also via Wittenmyer:
AndrewJStone - September 15, 2009
Lobotomy?
KaliCub - September 15, 2009
I think I'll just copy and paste my comments every day about the lineup.9(ugh-Riot)
but hey, stop the presses, Lou has 3 righties in a row at 3-4-5.
KaliCub - September 15, 2009
why does lou keep saying we need a speedy leadoff man?
we have theriot!…..
jesus christos - September 15, 2009
He's the fastest runner after swinging at2 pitches and getting himself back into the dugout!
KaliCub - September 15, 2009
HELL YEAH
jesus christos - September 15, 2009
lol at this lineup
It’s just too comical…Christ, Dome first, then MB, why is that so hard to understand?
Craig in South Bend - September 15, 2009
I'm OK with Christ leading off...
A pitcher wouldn’t DARE hit him…
Or were you saying Dome changed his first name?
Zeke - September 15, 2009
i have yet to be hit by a pitch, yes
jesus christos - September 15, 2009
Just think of all the hbp with his turning the other cheek. :)
KaliCub - September 15, 2009
No, last name
Fukudome Christ. Christianity clearly has been craving for something hip, and the kids LOVE Naruto, so, you know, there you go.
I hear he has trouble with the curve ball though.
Craig in South Bend - September 15, 2009
Why Scales?
FOX OR HOFFPAUIR!!! Scales is a great story but will probably be back in AAA next year. Both Hoff and Fox have a chance to make the team or be traded
Musicdude10 - September 15, 2009
why Fontenot?
elgato - September 15, 2009
why 68 losses??
LAcarl519 - September 15, 2009
I asked myself that March 31st
stuartscottslefteye - September 15, 2009 via mobile
because lou forgot about every game fontenot played in before last nights
jesus christos - September 15, 2009
This is starting to get Neffi like.
Doggie Stalker - September 15, 2009
Scales in LF is sure getting Neifi like.....
I think he started Fox in LF just to shut everyone up for a few days.
TJ11 - September 15, 2009
No Joke about
Evil BCB, they are pretty bent out of shape over Bob Brenly making the comment that PF’s uni looks like aninfield tarp.
Maybe it would help if he didn’t untuck it.
StevenABQ - September 15, 2009
"aninfield tarp"?
What is that?
Zeke - September 15, 2009
My bad
Trying to get work done and comment has its pitfalls.
StevenABQ - September 15, 2009
Don't apologize for that!
If he can’t figure out what you meant by “aninfield tarp,” especially in relation to the fattest guy in the league’s jersey size, let him keep guessing.
stuartscottslefteye - September 15, 2009 via mobile
I got the "tarp" part wisenheimer, I just wondered what the first word was...
Zeke - September 15, 2009
Sorry guy
Just a typo — I make many mistakes.
StevenABQ - September 15, 2009
As do I. No need to apologize.
Seriously, what word were you trying to type before “tarp”?
Zeke - September 15, 2009
infield
jesus christos - September 15, 2009
Well, "duh" on me. An infield tarp. Geeze, I can be dense some days.
Zeke - September 15, 2009
if it makes you feel better
i read it as antfield tarp
jesus christos - September 15, 2009
That'd be itchy to roll out and roll up.
Don’t think the ants would much like it either…
Zeke - September 15, 2009
I agree as I brought it up
in the first inning last night that Fielder looked like a total slob. It is not just the very loose fitting top, but it is the pants that are way too long—according to MLB rules. The guy is just a pig. I totally agree with Brenly, The guy should start to act like an adult worthy of his pay.
BTW “aninfield tarp” = an infield tarp (as used in rain delays)
LAcarl519 - September 15, 2009
Anything to attract attention
Like any Celebrity I think he probably subscribes to the “there is no such thing as bad publicity”. All of his antics [particularly this season] seem to point that way — IMO.
StevenABQ - September 15, 2009
And to think
Prince doesn’t eat meat!
http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080221&content_id=2383789&vkey=spt2008news&fext=.jsp&c_id=mil
jthack - September 15, 2009
Mmmm...
Vegan donuts
Clutch16 - September 15, 2009
:
StevenABQ - September 15, 2009
Here:
chilango2 - September 15, 2009
WHOSE RESPONSIBLE THIS?
Craig in South Bend - September 15, 2009
My wife's reaction in seeing Prince last night:
“They let players that fat play baseball?”
She’s still a little new to this.
Craig in South Bend - September 15, 2009
Capt. Dingleberry's latest:
chilango2 - September 15, 2009
Great . Now I have NOTHING to look forward to.
Doggie Stalker - September 15, 2009
darth vader is not happy
jesus christos - September 15, 2009
Scales and Fontenot
What the f***, Lou?
elgato - September 15, 2009
I mean there
is just no explanation for that. WTF????
paulucla - September 15, 2009
I said yesterday that it was going to be Fox's only start of the week.
More Scales i guess. I wonder if Fox hit a HR or two if he would have been in the lineup, I doubt it. He wasn’t scheduled to be in the lineups after his 4 hit game and slam game. Lou is a moron and I hope he gets canned soon.
TJ11 - September 15, 2009
Maybe?
chilango2 - September 15, 2009
Fartzilla
Is cracking me the hell up :D
Clutch16 - September 15, 2009
Is he related to "Fartman"?
Zeke - September 15, 2009
All because I decided to pick up tix for tonight.
Lou wants me to see a loss.
When the Cubs are losing, ticket prices go way down. I got tix about 10 rows from the field for $45/per off stubhub.
cubswynn - September 15, 2009
I didn't see many complaints
on this site when the Cubs dumped Casey McGehee. Actually I don’t recall any.
Hindsight is easy, so we can’t fault Hendry for letting him go in favor of Miles, Fontenot, Scales, and Blanco.
He’ll do better than get a few votes for ROTY. He might win the whole thing.
Clark Addison - September 15, 2009
i doubt it
jesus christos - September 15, 2009
We can fault Hendy for a lot of things.......
What Al is saying is that these people get paid to know their system and do not. They have overvalued their prospects for years and most have been shit. But then they let go of players that turn out to be decent.
TJ11 - September 15, 2009
exactly
The fact that no one at BCB had any problems with the move doesn’t absolve the Cubs from making a stupid decision.
elgato - September 15, 2009
McGehee's career MINOR league OPS was .741.
He never posted a single minor league season with an OPS over .800. Now all of a sudden he has an OPS near .900?
Hendry made a lot of mistakes this off-season, but I don’t blame him for this one.
Jody Jody Davis - September 15, 2009
I blame steroids
nji232 - September 15, 2009
This crappy lineup is no way to celebrate the passing of such a great man.
santoswoodenlegs - September 15, 2009
berselius - September 15, 2009
santoswoodenlegs - September 15, 2009
someone needs to explain Kanye's comments after that outburst
he’s going to take some time for introspection? How much introspection do you need to know you shouldn’t run up on stage when someone is accepting an award, and tell them they shouldn’t have won.
I’ve never heard a Taylor Swift song in my life. I have no allegiance to Taylor Swift, but that was jackassery of a mind numbing level
Nunyabidness - September 15, 2009
I'm impervious to what transpired
Guess youth is way outside my loop.
chilango2 - September 15, 2009
If I had a glock .9mm
I’d go outside, lay on my back, and fire it into the air until the clip was empty.
Craig in South Bend - September 15, 2009
my wife
watched “Dirty Dancing” last night in tribute. I asked if we could watch “Road House,” but that was a negative.
socalbob - September 15, 2009
You know what I would like
A nice perfect game from Big Z, complete with him hitting a homer.
nji232 - September 15, 2009
How about a quality start?
I’d be happy if he could at least do that.
Craig in South Bend - September 15, 2009
No Homers from Z Please
He’ll give up 5 runs the next inning
Icubsfan - September 15, 2009
wow.
The preview from ESPN Chicago says we’ve been out of the race since July….
“Following consecutive NL Central titles, Chicago (74-68) has been out of this year’s race for the last two months as St. Louis has pulled away. "
Devin B - September 15, 2009
Well from July 30 until last Friday
we never gained a full game.
nji232 - September 15, 2009
How many GB were we on July 30?
Devin B - September 15, 2009
i think we were tied or a half game back
jesus christos - September 15, 2009
As of July 15th we were tied for 3rd and 3.5 games back
and as of July 31, we were 1/2 game back.
Just the facts…
Either way, ESPN is wrong.
LAcarl519 - September 15, 2009
I. Am. SHOCKED!
Clutch16 - September 15, 2009
if a story isnt about what derek jeter had for breakfast
it probably isnt correct
jesus christos - September 15, 2009
As of (I believe) July 27, we had the division lead
SouthernCub - September 15, 2009
Did Theriot really make an error?
zevkalman - September 15, 2009
Jim Hendry's 2009 Dream Team Wakes Up
Inconsistency, slumps and injuries broke the camel’s back for the Cubs for most of this year. However, the Cubs played ball today like we had hoped they would before now. If by some small chance the Cubs do make it to the post season, I hope they continue to play like they are now and kick some nalgas all the way to a world series championship.
Shambles - September 16, 2009
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