Game 9 Preview – CUBS @ Pirates

CUBS (5-3) @ Pirates (3-5)

Thurs., April 10, 6:05 p.m. CT
TV: WGN
Radio: WGN 720 A.M.

Probables
CUBS: Rich Hill, LHP (0-0, 3.00 ERA)
Pirates: Matt Morris, RHP (5.40 ERA)

Projected Lineup

1. Soriano, LF
2. Fontenot, 2B
3. Lee, 1B
4. Ramirez, 3B
5. Fukudome, RF
6. Soto, C
7. Theriot, SS
8. Pie, CF
9. Hill, P

Preview
The Cubs and Pirates will try to play a traditional, nine-inning game on Thursday night in Pittsburgh. The first two games of three-game set between the Central Division rivals have been anything but brief. On Monday, the Cubs prevailed with a 12-8 victory in 12 innings. On Wednesday, the Cubs escaped again, outlasting the Pirates 6-4 in 15 innings.

Rich Hill will take the ball for the Cubs, although it was widely reported that manager Lou Piniellia wanted Jason Marquis to take the start Thursday. However, published reports said that Marquis had the flu, and Hill would take his regular turn in the rotation. Hill hasn’t factored into any decisions this season. He started last Friday against the Astros, giving up two runs in six innings.

Veteran Matt Morris will toe the rubber for the Pirates. Morris also doesn’t have any decisions on the young year. He gave up three earned runs in five innings of work April 4 against the Marlins.

The Cubs will try to extend their winning streak to five-in-a-row and sweep a series for the first time this season.

Manager Lou Piniella did some lineup shuffling again, but didn’t make any big changes. Catcher Geovany Soto, who played most of last night’s marathon will get the start behind the plate tonight. Soto was 1-for-5 with two walks last night. Second baseman Mark DeRosa will get a day off as reserve infielder Mike Fontoent will make his first start of the season, despite being limited thus far due to a nagging back injury. Felix Pie, who drove in the winning runs last night, will make the start in center, after making the start in five consecutive games.

Weather.com says game-time conditions should be decent in Pittsburgh. Temperature at first pitch will be about 65 degrees under cloudy skies with the possibility of rain throughout the game.

ESPN preview

CUBS preview

Cubby Corner – April 10

Editor’s Note: We’re bringing you an extra edition of Cubby Corner today. Also, while most of the CC items will be Cubs-related, some will be related to other MLB teams, or baseball in general.

Free Crap

ESPN’s D.J. Gallo had a funny column on the best (and worst) giveaways at MLB parks this season.

The Cubs had two of the worst giveaways:

Kosuke Fukudome Bobblehead Doll (Cubs, May 27) — Something that vibrates and has “Kosuke Fukudome” written on it? I hope this giveaway is only for those 18 and older.

Wristbands (Cubs, June 26) — Kind of a cruel reminder of the Dusty Baker era, no? In light of the promotion, that night’s starting pitcher will probably have to throw nine innings whether he likes it or not.

And two of the best:

Cubs Pink Cap (Cubs, May 11) — Unfortunately, this giveaway is a necessity. The Red Sox proved four years ago that having a stadium full of pink-hatted women is the only way to break a long World Series drought.

Aramis Ramirez Mini-Souvenir Baseball Bat (Cubs, May 31) — Ramirez is heavily involved in cockfighting in his native Dominican Republic (where cockfighting is legal, mind you), so perhaps his gamecocks can fight from now on with miniature bats.

Gallo also notes that the White Sox are sponsoring “Mullet Night” on July 19. I know they ran this promo last year, but to they really need to be encouraging this kind of behavior?

Oddly enough, the Royals are in town that night. Couldn’t they have picked a different series? If you don’t remember, the picture in the above link, was a photo of White Sox fan William Ligue, who, along with his then-14-year-old son ran onto the field and attacked Royals first base coach Tom Gamboa during a game on the South Side in 2002. Luckily, Gamboa is no longer with the team, but current Royals first base coach Rusty Kuntz better keep one eye on the stands during the game.

In other dispatches from the South Side

I noted that the team has a new slogan on its Web site:  SHARE THE PASSION.  SHOW THE SWAGGER.

Holy ripoff, Batman!  Really Sox, that’s the best you could do?

Forgive and forget (Part II)

As we told you yesterday, the Red Sox have seem to forgiven Bill Buckner for his blunder in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series, and “Mr. Cub” Ernie Banks says maybe it’s time the Cubs do the same for embattled  former Cub, Sammy Sosa.

Rushing to build a Banks-esque statue for the slugger may be a little much, but how much harm would there be if Sosa threw out a ceremonial first pitch, or led the crowd in “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” in the near future?

Tribune story

Me fail English?  That’s unpossible! (Part II)

As we told you about last week, the Cubs overcame a slight embarrassment by correcting a grammatical error on the new Ernie Banks statue outside the Friendly Confines.  Not to nitpick, but if the Cubs are fixing grammatical errors, shouldn’t they turn their collective attention to the red sign outside Wrigley at Clark & Addison?  I’ve always thought a “THE” would make sense.  I’m just sayin’…

If I were him, I might be a little concerned

Cleveland Indians center fielder Grady Sizemore has earned quite a reputation (and rightfully so) in Cleveland with his spectacular play during his career with the Tribe.  However, if I were Sizemore, I’d be a little creeped out by Grady’s Ladies. The women of GL (or “The Grady’s Ladies Sisterhood” as they officially call themselves) are apparently a bunch of Cleveland-area women who love Sizemore.  With hundreds of official members, I’d lock my doors at night, if I were Sizemore.  The funniest/weirdest/creepiest quote was featured on the club’s Web page:

“Can’t we just pay them [Grady Sizemore and Brows QB Brady Quinn] extra bonus money or something to stay here and procreate?”

I’m not sure what’s more troubling, the quote, or the fact that Rebecca Wilde, who made the statement, “Should run for office,” according to the stalkers…I mean fan club’s Web site.

Weather woes

Much of the country is beating attacked by a massive storm.  Atlanta at Colorado has already been canceled due to snow in Denver and Minnesota at the White Sox was washed out thanks to the heavy, persistent rain throughout the day in Chicago.  More games may be postponed/canceled, so stay tuned.

Game 8 Recap: CUBS-6 Pirates-4 (15 inn.)

Recap

Cubs legend Ernie Banks was famous for saying, “Let’s play two!” but that phrase may need to be altered for the 2008 Cubs: Let’s play two-and-a-half!  Coming off a 12 inning, five-hour 12-8 win over the Pirates on Monday, the clubs needed 15 innings to decide the outcome of Wednesday’s game.

Center fielder Felix Pie put the Cubs up for good with a two-run single to left center in the top of the 15th. Sean Marshall, who was recalled from Iowa hours before the game, came in for the bottom of the 15th to collect his first Major League save. But Marshall’s save didn’t come easily. After getting Ronny Paulino to pop out to first, Chris Gomez doubled to right, but the threat was averted when Marshall sat down the next two Pirates hitters he faced.

While Marshall got his first save, new closer Kerry Wood blew his first Major League save when Jason Bay homered to center in the bottom of the ninth to tie the game 2-2.

In the extra frames, the Cubs grabbed a two-run lead in the 14th when former Pirate Aramis Ramirez hit a home run to left, scoring Derrek Lee. The Pirates had an answer in the bottom of the 14th when Adam LaRoche homered to left, scoring Jason Bay.

Cubs starter Ryan Dempster looked sharp in his second start of the season. The closer-turned-starter didn’t factor in the decision, but he surrendered only one hit while striking out five in seven innings of work, over which he threw 98 pitches. Dempster’s ERA is now a meager 0.69. Bob Howry and Michael Wuertz combined for three scoreless innings after Wood gave up the lead in the ninth.

News & Notes:
W: Hart (2-0, 5.68 ERA)
L: Dumatrait (0-1, 4.50 ERA)
S: Marshall (1, 0.00 ERA)

Most Valuable Cub: Pie (1-4, 2 RBI, GW single)

Ramirez and Koskue Fukudome each had seven at-bats. Alfonso Soriano, Mark DeRosa, and Lee had six apiece…Only 9,735 were in attendance at PNC Park in Pittsburgh for the Pirates second home game of the season. The low attendance may have been due to the fact that the Penguins were playing the first NHL playoff game of the season…The Cubs and Pirates have played 9-hours 7-minutes of baseball in 27 innings over the first two games of the series.

Analysis:
Although the past two games have been grueling for the Cubs, comfort can be found in the fact that the team won both games. Last year, it wouldn’t have been surprising to see the club drop one or both of these contests. These wins speak to the fact that the club has matured and jelled under second-year manager Lou Piniellia. Wednesday’s game was of indicative of a comment Piniella made earlier in the season about the team’s run production. Although the Cubs scored 12 runs on Monday, clearly two runs aren’t enough as Kevin Hart surrendered the slim lead Wednesday night. The Cubs got lucky Wednesday, but two runs won’t be enough against better teams. Finally, wasn’t it a little weird to see Kerry Wood blowing a save in a game that Ryan Dempster started…not the other way around?

ESPN Recap

CUBS Recap