Looking To Make History: Cubs vs. Giants Preview, Sunday 9/27, 3:05 CT

by Al Yellon on Sep 27, 2009 1:00 PM CDT in Chicago Cubs Game Threads

The Giants moved from New York to San Francisco 51 years ago, in 1958. Since then, the Cubs have played them in San Francisco in a four-game series 23 times.

The number of times a Cubs team has swept a Giants team on the road in those 23 tries is zero. So the 2009 Cubs has a chance to do something that's never been done before by a Cubs team -- sweep the Giants in a four-game set in San Francisco. The Cubs did sweep the Giants in a four-game series at Wrigley Field in 1963. The final game of that series, on June 6, was memorable. Reliever Lindy McDaniel came into a tie game in the 10th inning with the bases loaded. He picked Willie Mays off second base, struck out Ed Bailey, then hit a walkoff homer leading off the bottom of the 10th. That is the only time the Cubs have swept the Giants at all in a four-game series since they moved West in 1958.

There was an article the other day by Paul Sullivan speculating on whether the Giants would trade Aaron Rowand for Milton Bradley. Thought you would like to see a couple of FanShots from McCovey Chronicles with some thoughts from Giants fans on whether they'd do it or not. And, you can cross the Royals off the list of teams that might want Bradley, with pretty strong language quoted by Bob Dutton of the Kansas City Star:

Royals officials dismiss — in strong terms — reports of possible interest in acquiring outfielder Milton Bradley from the Cubs. "Idiots" was one of the nicer comments directed at those offering such speculation.

Site note: tonight is Yom Kippur, so today's game recap will be delayed until tomorrow morning.

Today's Starting Pitchers


Randy Wells Cubs	vs.	Matt Cain Giants

11-9	W-L	13-7
3.00	ERA	2.99
93	SO	158
43	BB	70
14	HR	22
vs. Hou	--	vs. Cubs

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2009 - Randy Wells	11-9	25	25	0	0	0	0	153.0	152	62	51	14	43	93	3.00	1.27

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2009 - Matt Cain	13-7	31	31	4	0	0	0	204.2	175	71	68	22	70	158	2.99	1.20

Matt Cain last faced the Cubs on July 11, 2008 at Wrigley Field. He and Jason Marquis both threw seven shutout innings that day, but the Cubs won 3-1 when Aramis Ramirez hit a three-run homer off reliever Tyler Walker. In fact, Cain didn't give up a run to the 2008 NL scoring leaders in two starts last year. This year, Cain has overall good numbers, but has lost his last three starts, in which he has a 9.42 ERA. Derrek Lee, who we hope will be back in the lineup today, is 4-for-15 with a double and HR off Cain and Aramis Ramirez is 3-for-10.

Randy Wells talked Lou into giving him two more starts, so he'll go today and then Saturday at home vs. the Diamondbacks. Randy's walk rate is up a bit this month (10 in 26.1 innings) but he has still posted a 2.73 ERA in five starts. He has never faced the Giants and the only player on their team who he has faced -- Freddy Sanchez in his Pirates days -- is now out for the season.

Today's game will have good announcers again (Len & Bob) on WGN and also on CSN Bay Area (Mike Krukow and Duane Kuiper). For other games today see the MLB.com Mediacenter.

MLB.com Gameday

Baseball-reference.com game preview

SB Nation game preview

Please visit our SB Nation Giants site McCovey Chronicles.

Overflow comment threads will post today at 4:15 and 5:15 pm CDT.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

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Comments

Go Cubs!! Let's keep this hot streak going.

Bleed Cubbie Blue