SFG 42 --- Schmidt @ MON Kim CHC 45 0.5 Carlos @ MIL Santos SDP 44 1.0 Peavy @ ATL Wright FLA 45 4.5 Burnett @ LAD Alvarez PHI 44 5.0 Wolf v HOU Oswalt
(new column is Games Left)
Could’ve been worse. I have a feeling we won’t be making up ground tonight on the Giants, but we could at least put some distance on the rest.
Florida passing the Phillies is the least surprising thing ever. Houston could pull themselves back in and end Philadelphia in this series.
I’m completely surprised Kerry’s suspension wasn’t dropped down a game. This means we’ve got a “shorthanded” bullpen (though since they’re carrying 12 pitchers, they still should be fine) for this extended trip through the rotation.
TUE 08/17 Carlos @ MIL Santos
WED 08/18 Clement @ MIL Sheets
THU 08/19 Maddux @ MIL Capuano
FRI 08/20 Rusch @ HOU
SAT 08/21 Prior @ HOU
SUN 08/22 Wood @ HOU
It’s an unnoted wise move to give Prior an extra day here. And actually, not a horrible thing for Kerry to get an extra day after throwing 120+ pitches last time out.
The timing of the schedule and the six man rotation means everyone’s getting back to back starts against the same team; Carlos, Matt and Greg will pitch against Houston when they come here, and Prior and Wood will have the first two games of the followup Astros series.
Cubs really need to win at least 2 of 3 here. Getting swept in Milwaukee again would be devastating. This is their last trip up there, and I imagine the stadium will be packed – but only by the third inning when everyone’s made it through the road horrors.
The good thing for them is they didn’t have many rain outs this season (cross your fingers – still haven’t been to Florida), so they’ve got 3 off days left in September to rest guys and juggle the rotation. Because of an interleague makeup with PHI, the White Sox only have one off day the rest of the season.
I like the matchup tonight. Santos has been lit up his last few starts
IP H R ER BB K 07/31 5.0 7 4 3 0 6 08/05 3.2 6 9 6 1 1 08/11 4.2 8 7 5 3 5
and Carlos was awesome coming back from suspension. Against Milwaukee, he’s had one bad game (5.2, 4ER) and one great game (8.0, 0R) in Miller Park this season. The great game was the last one, so maybe he figured them out.
Out of Carlos’s 22 starts this season, 19 have been for over 100 pitches. I’m surprised, but that doesn’t even make him the top Zambrano in PAP (though he is 5th over all.)
I do agree with tCR’s thought about Carlos needing a cool nickname of some sort (meaning we shouldn’t let Eric Neel near it), but Dr. Z? When Carlos goes nuts after a inning ending strikeout, I’m not sure he’s the guy I want operating on me.
Maybe I’m pigeonholing him because he’s Latin, but I see him needed a nickname akin to a fiery boxer, with his strong groundball jabs and powerful cross strikeouts.
Carlos “Lights Out” Zambrano?
Carlos “the Crusher!” Zambrano?
I don’t know.
Ram’s out for tonight. I’m not sure if they’re going with thecubsfan.com personal scorn Jose Macias or Ramon. I do know there will be at least 20 phone calls to sports radio complaining it isn’t Todd Walker.
OPS/AB vR vMIL vSantos Macias .672/90 .798/23 3/1.400 Martinez .660/167 .255/23 1/.900 Walker .890/254 .886/20 none RAM .939/327 .771/16 4/1.500
Walker last played 3B in 1997.