Don't Give Up. The Players Haven't: Cubs vs. Mets Preview, Sunday 9/6, 12:10 CT

by Al Yellon on Sep 6, 2009 9:00 AM CDT in Chicago Cubs Game Threads

NEW YORK -- Derrek Lee and Rich Harden said all the right things yesterday. First, D-Lee:

Lee said he still will feel empty in October if the Cubs don't make the playoffs, no matter what his numbers are.

"I take pride in that I was able to stay healthy and play as hard as I can," he said. "But the best year of my career ('05) we didn't make the playoffs, and it didn't do anything for me.

"The last two years have been great. The postseason is where it's at. That's why you grind through 162 games. It's nice to do your job, obviously. You don't want to stink it up. But the goal is to win."

"No one would have expected us to be in this position, but we are," Lee said. "We have a month to go, so you can't hang your head or feel sorry for yourself. I mean, stranger things have happened, so it's not impossible. I guess that's how you have to look at it."

And Harden:

"I still don't want to get too far ahead of myself," Harden said. "But here I am, with 24 starts, and today was probably the strongest I've felt in I don't know how long. Hopefully I can build on that and get back to how I used to be late in the season."

Harden credited the Cubs' conditioning program, which bodes well for their chances of re-signing him. But Harden and Lee didn't want to talk about next year as long as the Cubs have a mathematical chance to get in the playoffs. They remained seven games behind the Rockies for the wild card.

All the teams ahead of the Cubs won yesterday, except for the Braves, who lost their second in a row to Cincinnati -- at home. The Cubs could pull even with Atlanta with a win and a Braves loss today. The players haven't given up -- look at Lee's quote above. I'm not giving up. Don't you, either. Not yet.

In addition to his knee problems, Alfonso Soriano thinks there may be another reason for his bad season:

The Cubs left fielder, who might be out for the rest of the season because of the knee, said he plans to have an extensive eye exam by a specialist after teammates and staff asked him about his eyesight.

"Not like a normal test," said Soriano, who added that he can't tell a difference in his sight from other years but wonders if an imperceptible difference has contributed to the worst-hitting season of his career. "I had four or five people ask me about that."

Sure, why not? Maybe all the Cubs should do this. It can't hurt.

Finally, in talking to some Mets fans, not only are they upset with the way Citi Field was designed in homage to the Brooklyn Dodgers, ignoring their own team's history, but they also don't care for the all-white uniform that is the Mets' primary garb -- apparently, it's supposed to be modeled after the 1951 Brooklyn Dodgers, though it's odd that they'd pay tribute to a team that blew a 13.5 game lead, and the Mets' white home jersey resembles the '51 Dodgers road jersey more than the home shirt. One Mets fan said to me, "They've turned the Mets into the 'New York Dodgers'." And with the team's poor play and financial fallout from the Bernard Madoff scandal, the Mets could be looking at a period of serious decline.

I don't have a problem with this. Let's start it today.

Site note: once again, today's recap will be delayed, as I am leaving to drive to Pittsburgh right after today's game; I hope to have it posted by around 11 pm CDT.

Today's Starting Pitchers


Randy Wells Cubs	vs.	Mike Pelfrey Mets

10-7	W-L	9-10
2.90	ERA	5.03
82	SO	88
35	BB	60
11	HR	12
vs. NY	--	vs. Cubs

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2009 - Randy Wells	10-7	21	21	0	0	0	0	133.1	128	49	43	11	35	82	2.90	1.22

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2009 - Mike Pelfrey	9-10	26	26	0	0	0	0	150.1	173	91	84	12	60	88	5.03	1.55

Mike Pelfrey is a pitcher who is a perfect example of how goofy major league schedules are. He's been in the Mets' rotation for two full years and parts of two others, but has never faced the Cubs. He's also struggled this year, and particularly since the All-Star break; since then he is 2-6, 6.10 in nine starts.

Since 1945, only four Cubs rookie pitchers have won more games in a season than Randy Wells: Jim Davis, 11 in 1954; Dick Drott, 15 in 1957; Geremi Gonzalez, 11 in 1997, and Kerry Wood, 13 in 1998. Drott, incidentally, was kind of the Kerry Wood of his day; he finished 2nd in the NL in K's, led the league in walks, and was third in ROY voting. Randy Wells isn't a strikeout pitcher, but he does have an outside chance of having the most wins for a Cub rookie pitcher since Drott. Today would be a nice time for win #11. Wells has never faced the Mets.

Today's game is on WGN for national distribution, and on SNY in New York. 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 Mets site Amazin' Avenue.

The overflow comment threads weren't too busy yesterday -- I assume because of the holiday weekend -- so I'm only going to post two of them today, at 1:15 pm and 2:30 pm CDT. If things get too busy, please post a FanShot overflow.

Discuss amongst yourselves.

0 recs | 63 comments

Comments

I may stand corrected

The D-Lee and Harden did say the right things, but I don’t know if they can dig themselves out of the hole they are in.

gaclaudy - September 6, 2009 reply

They can't

Lee and Harden are saying exactly what they should say. And good thing. We’ve had a little too damn much honesty from the players in speaking to the media.

99 percent of players do just what Lee did. They say something nice, say it clearly and quickly and get the reporters to leave. It’s amazing how the 1 percent that don’t do that feel like they are walking around with a crown of thorns and waiting to get nailed to the cross.

Worf - September 6, 2009 reply

+1 million

And rec’d.

elgato - September 6, 2009 reply

I love your easy way of saying things

If you don’t make your living using words, you should at least consult.

chilango2 - September 6, 2009 reply

Who's hitting a grand slam today?

Make it 4 Cubs/Mets series in a row this happens!

Make it the third straight Cubs/Mets series where a rookie hits his first ever grand slam!

ak123 - September 6, 2009 reply

To build on something you said yesterday, Al

The Dodgers left town about 55 years ago.

The Mets have won two World Series and won two other pennants. Some great players have been Mets. Some great characters have been Mets.

I’m not entirely sure who they are catering to with this. 70-year-old Brooklyn residents?

There is a weird thing in New York about this kind of stuff. I was visiting the city when the news broke that the Nets were considering moving to Brooklyn. The Times treated it like the moon landing.

I visited Brooklyn. I wasn’t that impressed. Give me Manhattan any day.

Worf - September 6, 2009 reply

IMHO, they should have done more of an homage to the NY Giants

Ace Venom - September 6, 2009 reply

DLee

Anyone know the last time DLee went deep twice in a game?

Hanso - September 6, 2009 reply

July 2nd vs. Milwaukee

carmen_fanzone - September 6, 2009 reply

Thanks!

you just settled a high stakes wager i had w/ my dad. i am now a buck richer!

Hanso - September 6, 2009 reply

Harden

Depending on the price, I think Hendry should really try to bring Harden back. The more comments I read, the more he impresses me.

elgato - September 6, 2009 reply

I like the guy

but I’d like him more if his outings didn’t automatically mean 4 innings of bullpen.

ChipSet - September 6, 2009 reply

agreed

TJ11 - September 6, 2009 reply

The WC is a long shot, but here's the upcoming schedule anyways...

Cincinnati @ Colorado
San Diego @ San Francisco
CUBS @ Pittsburgh

Colorado @ San Diego
Los Angeles @ San Francisco
Cincinnati @ CUBS

Colorado @ San Francisco
Milwaukee @ CUBS

DKT - September 6, 2009 reply

players i feel that could sign with the cubs

have to clear some cap roll but what the hell. Orlando Hudson, Placido Polanco, Figgins, if Soriano is somehow moved, which he probably won’t be, then Holliday/Bay, and if they don’t trust Marmol, Rafeal Soriano.

lexmarklover - September 6, 2009 reply

hollidays going to remain a cardinal and bays probably going to remain a sawk

jesus christos - September 6, 2009 reply

Holliday will likely NOT be a Cardinal

he is a Boras client and will definately be on the block to the highest bidder. St. Louis is VERY concerned over the package they are going to have to try to put together to keep Pujols in a couple years, and are likey to have to watch payroll carefully. The concensus among the “best fans in baseball” is that they are all in this year, and things might get tough after that.

tommy veryzer - September 6, 2009 reply

On Alfonso Soriano getting an eye exam

I often wondered if this is what happened to Sosa at the end of his career, after the beanball he took from Salomon Torres.

His hitting kept declining, but oddly, he always hit a ton whenever it rained, which made me think maybe he was able to see the ball better because of its effect on the falling water as it passed through it, sort of a tracer effect.

Give Sori a full medical once-over, and let’s get a fully tuned-up LF back for next year. He can’t have dropped off this significantly because of age, I just don’t believe that.

Goodie1969 - September 6, 2009 reply

Steinbrenner made Reggie get an eye exam at one point

because he was in a slump.

The next year, Reggie was let go and signed with the Angels, where they won two AL West titles.

Food for thought for the “Dump Soriano” crowd.

Worf - September 6, 2009 reply

Eye Exam

I used to think Corey Patterson needed an eye exam.

Soriano was NL player of the month 5 months ago; that was this season An eye exam wouldn’t hurt, but I think the knee is a more likely physical cause. He also was never a selective hitter even last year or the year before.

AboutTheCubs - September 6, 2009 reply

Kinda off-topic, but...

I feel truly sorry for the Pirates.

One more loss, and they will set a record for the most consecutive losing seasons (17) in one of the four major sports.

It must be so tough to be a Pirates fan.

Vermont Cubs Fan - September 6, 2009 reply

If you believe that most Pirates fans are also Steelers or Penguins fans...

Then no, I don’t feel sorry for them.

Worf - September 6, 2009 reply

Good point.

Those two teams are good enough.

Vermont Cubs Fan - September 6, 2009 reply

The sorry state of the Cubs in the 90s

were a lot easier to take with the Bulls.

The problem now is that people aren’t necessarily fans of all the teams in a city. I’m not a Bears or Blackhawks fan, for instance. (Packers in the NFL; Blues in the NHL)

Worf - September 6, 2009 reply

I also am a Bulls fan, too.

But my team loyalties are odd (Packers, Badgers, Bulls, Cubs, Blackhawks).

Vermont Cubs Fan - September 6, 2009 reply

I feel most sorry for the players.

On the other hand, it’s probably about the same as playing in Des Moines. If you do really well, you’ll end up playing in Chicago soon.

Goodie1969 - September 6, 2009 reply

Good luck today Randy.

sue369 - September 6, 2009 reply

So Sue,

are you okay after the Hawkeyes game yesterday? That must have been a little tough to watch.

Vermont Cubs Fan - September 6, 2009 reply

Geez, I forgot about that

As an Illini fan, Sue, I propose that we get drunk and count the days until basketball season.

Worf - September 6, 2009 reply

The Hawks seem to

start out shitty but gain steam as the season goes on. I’m hoping they can do that this season too. I didn’t think they deserved to win yesterday. They were awful but UNI has a good team and gave Iowa all they could handle.

sue369 - September 6, 2009 reply

You and Worf should see this.

A few years ago, I got a small set of football helmets for the Big Ten teams. I set them up every year at this time so I can always see who is playing who.

It’s especially interesting when the teams begin their conference schedules.

Vermont Cubs Fan - September 6, 2009 reply

UNI could probably beat half the D1 teams in the nation.

No excuse for yesterday, and Iowa should be able to beat all but 22 of the teams in the nation, but still… it wasn’t the near Appalachian State situation some are making it out to be.

AndrewJStone - September 6, 2009 reply

Next week will be a blast.........

won’t it, Sue?

tommy veryzer - September 6, 2009 reply

I just want

to beat state at Ames.

sue369 - September 6, 2009 reply

Hmm. 130+ games into the season

and just NOW Sori and the Cubs and coaches are wondering about his eyesight? Good Grief. Haven’t they been WATCHING him at the plate and in the field this season?

OK, I know fans are the first people to THINK they know everything, but this one was obvious for MONTHS! Sori has looked lost for much of the year. The coaches and medical staff are PAID to be on the lookout for this kind of thing.

Wow.

Zeke - September 6, 2009 reply

This wouldn't happen with the Cardinals

TJ11 - September 6, 2009 reply

black magic numbers

division – 21
wild card – 16

doofus cubs guy - September 6, 2009 reply

If those are elimination numbers

They’re backwards.

Caledonia - September 6, 2009 reply

Or maybe he’s predicting a Cards collapse?

Devin B - September 6, 2009 reply

This is an admittedly small thing, but...

…I took small delight in this: “Harden credited the Cubs’ conditioning program.”

Remember when it was just a few years ago, in the morass of Prior and Wood injuries (and others I’m surely forgetting), that everyone and their mother was talking about how the Cubs training staff was the worst in the league? It looks like the organization has taken care of its training and medical staff woes. Good for the Cubs. And praise like this gets around to free agents. – TL

timlacy - September 6, 2009 reply

Agreed

Sadly, there won’t be a lot of high-profile free agent signings this offseason. The Cubs need to replace two bullpen arms and that’s about it—if they tender Harden a contract.

chilango2 - September 6, 2009 reply

I was away of coupöe of days, and now 7 out in the wild card yikes....

I hope the team should some real effort in the last two games, and Wells always promises a good afternoon/evening.

We really really really need to draw even with Atlanta – Go Cubs. Go Reds.

eths - September 6, 2009 reply

Oh god, I must be more tired after our field day than I thought.

I wanted to say:

I was away of couple of days, and now 7 out in the wild card yikes….

I hope the team showed some real effort in the last two games, and today Wells always promises a good afternoon/evening of baseball.

We really really really need to draw even with Atlanta – Go Cubs. Go Reds.

eths - September 6, 2009 reply

What Soriano needs

is a LIGHTER BAT!!! He apparently uses by far the heaviest bat in the league. It means he’s got to get it started quicker, and has less time to react to pitches, hence looking horrible on sliders low and away.

Eye exam couldn’t hurt either.

Canadian Cubs Fan - September 6, 2009 reply