Gameday Thread, #36: 5/9 vs. Cubs
by Jim McLennan on May 9, 2008 2:01 PM EDT
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PrintArizona Diamondbacks at Chicago Cubs, May 9, 2008 2:20 PM EDT
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Two words, guaranteed to strike fear into the hearts of all who experience them. "Flu-like symptoms." Yes, that's what I'm suffering from today. Actuallly, it might the foll-on flu, but no-one in baseball ever gets that. I'm going to follow suit and go with the old standby, "Flu-like symptoms." My voice sounds like the guy who dies the movie trailers ["It was a time of trouble..."] or possibly an announver at a gentleman's club ["Now coming to the main stage, the very lovely...Jezebel..."], and something appears to have crawled into my sinuses and died. Whatever it was, appears to have had tentacles.
Good win yesterday, and today, we get to face Ted Lilly. We love Ted Lilly. Every time we face Ted Lilly, it brings back memories of Game Two in last year's NLCS where Ted Lilly gave up a three-run jack to Chris Young and Ted Lilly threw a temper tantrum on the mound, hurling Ted Lilly's glove to the dirt like a petulant Little Leaguer. 3.1 innings pitched, six earned runs, on seven hits and four walks. Let's just remind Ted Lilly of that moment, how much the Arizona Diamondbacks enjoyed facing Ted Lilly.
Gonna be a tough series though, as the Cubs have been hammering the ball, especially at Wrigley where they have scored 7.2 runs per game, and are hitting a collective .315/.401/.505. I'd happily settle for two of the three: Zambrano is the most obvious issue, but we likely are inside Lilly's head after his October meltdown, and I am optimistic we can pounce on that and take the opener.
Jackson back in the lineup, which is good to see; still no Hudson though, and he's replaced by Burke. Young stays in the three-spot, but we are stuck with Byrnes batting lead-off once again. While Byrmes does seem to realize there's an issue, I can't say that is really much help at this point, since we all know that. Fixing it is what we want to see, and the friendly confines of Wrigley would be a good place to start.
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Byrnes batting leadoff!
Dude couldnt get a hit off a pitching machine at the moment…WHY WHY WHY!!!
..from the artist formerly known as Englishdback
Jim, get better.
Take some meds and let us handle the game today.
It's like living with a six-year old.
It takes a low man to say this but
“flu-like symptoms” is 3 words not 2!
lol, get better soon fella
..from the artist formerly known as Englishdback
Ugh, here’s hoping a win will help you feel better, Jim.
The Cubs have been in a bit of a spiral lately- 3-7 in their last ten, and they just dropped a series to the Reds, 1-2, which I’m sure we can find some faint sympathy for. But Lilly has turned it around his past few starts. Be nice to break that trend.
"Look, I'm not a financial expert or anything, but I'm pretty sure that a zeppelin is an excellent investment opportunity."
WOW
Lilly just loves facing Young. LOL
"Troops in desperate straights know no fear. Where there is no escape, they stand firm; When they have entered deep, they persist; When they see no hope, they fight." Sun Tzu The Art of War
Awww, I missed it
I was putting sausages under the grill
We will meet in Red 3 at the hour of scampering.
kk food time
Try not to miss me too much guys
"Troops in desperate straights know no fear. Where there is no escape, they stand firm; When they have entered deep, they persist; When they see no hope, they fight." Sun Tzu The Art of War
1-2-3
Always nice to get a 1-2-3 after getting an early lead
..from the artist formerly known as Englishdback
1-2-3 for Haren
"Look, I'm not a financial expert or anything, but I'm pretty sure that a zeppelin is an excellent investment opportunity."
Gracie and Sutton are starting to sound like foulpole “That catch by Byrnes took away a double. That was just like him hitting a double.” (Paraphrazing)
uh oh, you’re going third person on us…
"There are only two seasons: winter and baseball"
-- Bill Veeck
My is Snyder on fire
Can’t believe his BA has gone all the way up to .284…
by singaporedbacksfan on May 9, 2008 2:40 PM EDT reply actions
Snyder gets aboard
Does Lilly want to give up all of his hits with two outs today?
"Look, I'm not a financial expert or anything, but I'm pretty sure that a zeppelin is an excellent investment opportunity."
Enjoying the game from work.....ugh.
Please take the series from the Cubs – I have wayyyyyy too many Cubs fans to deal with at work. However, I will be quick to remind them of last year’s NLDS in case they forgot.
Oh, and can we please find some help for Byrnes & Burke – quickly??
1-2-3
Haren has four ground-outs through two. Is he doing his Webb impression?
Whatever it is, keep it up!
"Look, I'm not a financial expert or anything, but I'm pretty sure that a zeppelin is an excellent investment opportunity."
At least he's coming with a plan
and working very efficiently.
In the first inning he struck out on three pitches, now he pops up on one pitch. Why bother making the pitcher work?
Last Inning
I was hoping that we could clear the pitcher AND Byrnes…
by Craig from Az on May 9, 2008 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Droooooooooooooooooooooo!
Another two-out hit!
"Look, I'm not a financial expert or anything, but I'm pretty sure that a zeppelin is an excellent investment opportunity."
Sorry you’re under the weather, Jim. I must have something similar to you as it sent me home from work at noon on Tues. and I am just back to work today. Cold, sniffling galore, nausea and worse. Gaaack! The only thing that made me feel better was watching Webb’s 8th win yesterday.
On a better note, I would love for the D-Backs to shut those Cubs up like they did last October.
D'oh
Drew stranded on third.
"Look, I'm not a financial expert or anything, but I'm pretty sure that a zeppelin is an excellent investment opportunity."
K
Oh well.. off to bed now. Go Dbacks!
by singaporedbacksfan on May 9, 2008 2:54 PM EDT reply actions
I hate to complain, but at some point CY has got to figure out a way to get his K rate down. I thought he’d make a jump this year, but it’s not looking that way so far.
"There are only two seasons: winter and baseball"
-- Bill Veeck
Agree
Right now, CY is pushing to be a skinny Gorman Thomas at the plate ;-)
by Craig from Az on May 9, 2008 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Is it just me
or does Reed Johnson sound a lot like Eric Byrnes? “He can bunt for base hits, hit some out of the park, play some defense and runs hard all the time. A real throwback type of player.”
Of course, sane teams treat him like a complementary player.
How many points of OPS
would an at bat like that be worth to Byrnes?
Sadly, I can’t remember the last time he had even a “productive” out.
No damage done
Three more ground outs for Haren, and the lead holds. Now let’s get some more runs!
"Look, I'm not a financial expert or anything, but I'm pretty sure that a zeppelin is an excellent investment opportunity."
Nice work
Three scoreless innings. Now, let’s get some hits that aren’t with two outs! I’m looking at YOU, CoJack and J-Up…
How 'bout a walk?
Is that a good start?
"Look, I'm not a financial expert or anything, but I'm pretty sure that a zeppelin is an excellent investment opportunity."
Interlude
Conor Jackson: 3 SB, 0 CS
Eric Byrnes: 4 SB, 2 CS, picked off once
That is all.
Peace out.
Come on, guys
Two Ks? Let’s get another two-out hit here to score CoJack!
"Look, I'm not a financial expert or anything, but I'm pretty sure that a zeppelin is an excellent investment opportunity."
D'oh!
Well, I’m off to run some errands. Keep it up, Haren, and how about the offense starts working, huh?
"Look, I'm not a financial expert or anything, but I'm pretty sure that a zeppelin is an excellent investment opportunity."
Thanks a lot, hotclaws… you say that and Theriot follows with a marathon AB.
"There are only two seasons: winter and baseball"
-- Bill Veeck
Smooth. Very smooth
Two K’s and a fly out gets up back out there again.
Ok, we have had a base-runner with less than two outs. We have had two-out hits. Now, can we get both in the same inning?
Who is playing 2B in AAA for us? Burke is just terrible. At some point we’ve got to give someone else a try.
"There are only two seasons: winter and baseball"
-- Bill Veeck
Agreed,
a slap hitter with no walks that has only hit over .300 once in a full minor league season – in Lancaster.
He is not the answer. Burke is fine for now.
but at least Emilio can run. Burke offers NOTHING at this point.
"There are only two seasons: winter and baseball"
-- Bill Veeck
now we’re reaching… “play” is used very generously, there.
"There are only two seasons: winter and baseball"
-- Bill Veeck
Bonifacio won't be able to play
1B, 2B, SS, 3B and LF.
For a team with a short bench, that’s useful. And Bonifacio isn’t enough of an upgrade with the bat to justify getting rid of that versatility.
Burke, Haren, Byrnes
Gonna clear them all in one inning, then the real batters can try again.
Solo homer by CY in the 1st. That’s it. A triple by Drew wasted. A single and then stolen base by CoJack wasted.
It's probably all these drugs I'm taking.
Hundreds and hundreds of drugs. Aren’t you that guy who likes the Redskins? And…the Astros?
1-2-3
Film at eleven.
At least it gets everything out of the way. Byrnes needs to save another double.
By the way,
if you go to NYC, don’t ever eat noodles from street vendors in Chinatown.
Max Scherzer is all out of bubblegum.
How's that beast Fukudome looking?
Oh… and Haren has a 1-hitter going?? We’ve GOT to resign this guy…...
Max Scherzer is all out of bubblegum.
I don’t like the intentional walk here… Haren is too good today and Reed Johnson is too pedestrian.
"There are only two seasons: winter and baseball"
-- Bill Veeck
i hate to say i was right... but i was right.
"There are only two seasons: winter and baseball"
-- Bill Veeck
Single malt Laphroaig.
Just don’t tell him I gave it to you. He’s at his law firm.
Max Scherzer is all out of bubblegum.
Ouch.
One run down, and we have cleared the sucky part of the order. Thinking we’ll get it back this inning.
And
The Riot gets us out of the inning. (Greatest name EVER, by the way)
Max Scherzer is all out of bubblegum.
How are we getting shut down by Lilly? I mean, honestly…
"There are only two seasons: winter and baseball"
-- Bill Veeck
I guess scotch doesn't work.
I’ll have some rye, instead.
By the way, everything is SO DAMNED EXPENSIVE here….
Max Scherzer is all out of bubblegum.
*sings*
cigarettes and whiskey and wild, wild women.
They’ll drive you crazy, they’ll drive you insane
We will meet in Red 3 at the hour of scampering.
Win Probability
Entering bottom of 6th inning.
FanGraphs: Cubs 74%
My Simulator: Cubs 80%
Simulator takes into account where in the batting order you are and who the pitchers are etc…
vr, Xeifrank
It's okay.
It’s not like we intentionally walked the #8 hitter to get to the pitcher, and then gave up an RBI.
Wait….
Max Scherzer is all out of bubblegum.
Whoa.... the Cubs are only 19-15?
For some reason, I thought they were better than that…...
Max Scherzer is all out of bubblegum.
I know it's Marmol,
it’sA JOKE.
We will meet in Red 3 at the hour of scampering.
by hotclaws on May 9, 2008 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Okay.... now, I don't wanna say that I HATE Chris Burke,
but…. you know.
Max Scherzer is all out of bubblegum.
You do know that "burk"
is cockney rhyming slang?
It’s Berkley Hunt, which rhymes with , well what you think of him anyway.
We will meet in Red 3 at the hour of scampering.
Gracie should have the guts to do what Uecker does...
“I’ll root, root, root for the Brewers – you do the same for the Cubs!”
Anyone listening to the local radio broadcast, does Jeff Munn give you a headache like he does me? Can’t stand him.
I'm torn on him
I think he’s a fine announcer, but his voice grates on me a little. It’s not really his fault, though, so I’m torn.
I've disliked Munn from day one
I don’t hate him, just would rather watch paint dry than listen to him broadcast a game
by Craig from Az on May 9, 2008 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions
IUAFD SOIJ FOIJEAFOIJ OIJDOSI
BENCH BYRNES NOW!!!
by dahlian on May 9, 2008 4:26 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Yes, but he moved in front of the plate and they said the catcher made contact with him when he tried to throw down to 2nd.
It doesn't need contact.
His momentum carried him in front of the throwing lane of the catcher.
It may not get called all the time, but it’s not a bad call.
Borderline
but that’s why you’re not supposed to flail wildly at everything when you’re in the batter’s box.
“flying nuns” may be funny, but they’re bad form.
marmol laughs
i would too. Byrnes is an absolute joke.
Note: we are not laughing with your because you have goofy hair. we are laughing at you because your deterioration as a player has been epic in all its glory.
BTW, intereference or not (it wasnt) if Byrnes can lay down a bunt on a 2-0 count it doesnt matter. I really am starting to hate Byrnes
Can we recap?
For those watching on Yahoo Gameday, which currently includes the odd line, “Byrnes struck out swinging, Byrnes to second…”
Byrnes struck out.
Augie stole second. Byrnes flailed wildly at the pitch as he is wont to do and his momentum carried himself on top of home plate. Augie was safe, but the ump called catcher’s interference on Byrnes and Byrnes magically turned a strike out into a double play.
Its supposed to be....
$6M for bat and $3M for Glove and $1M for intangibles…....i think right now it is more like $9.5M for glove and .5M for intangibles
All this talk about players who beat themselves up
reminds me of the people who thought Quentin couldn’t succeed because he would beat himself up over every mistake.
Grace “right now it’s what Byrnes is going through”.
I don't think we could get
a blow up beachball for him right now.
We will meet in Red 3 at the hour of scampering.
Argh. HR.
Screw this, I’ve got a cocktail party at a law firm. I’m out.
Max Scherzer is all out of bubblegum.
Oh, it would be so nice to stick it to the Cubs and Kerry Wood in the 9th. Edgar Gonzalez in the bullpen up and throwing.
I love midwest broadcasts
Whenever I feel like a total fatass and really think I need to workout I can always watch a Brewers/Cubs game and know that I have a long way to go before I am deemed as ‘a guy that just doesn’t care anymore’
When will the “crackpot janitor” (seems more appropriate for his managing ability than that “mad scientist” misnomer) sit Byrnes, or at least move him way down the order? And starting Burke?!? What, Augie wasn’t playing well enough, or was worn out from a weeks worth of mostly regular playing time? sigh… At least due to the national broadcast on WGN I got to listen to the game being called by a couple professionals, and still got an innings worth of Grace when he joined them
Didn't see the replay, but I think Upton might have been safe on that last play.
Brandon Webb, do I need to say more?
Talk about an echo chamber in here
The boys in Sedona Red slugged it out with a pretty pesky poltergeist, then stayed on to dance the night away with some of the lovely ladies who witnessed the disturbance.
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