IGT: Cubs @ Mets---09-22-08

[bmfc1]

It's early, but rather than sit and mope about yesterday, I want to think about tonight's big game.

Jason Marquis is pitching for the Cubs. Two reasons to like him and only two: he's a M.O.T. and he was born in Manhasset, LI. This year, he's 10-9 with a 4.32 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. He hasn't faced the Mets this year. Last year, the Mets beat him up twice. Given that he's a righty, you would think that Schneider would get the start but Brian is 1-17 lifetime against Marquis while Ramon is 5-11 with 2 HR and a double. Wright, Beltran and Delgado also have HR's off Marquis.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

MOT?

When Marquis was a rookie with the Braves, one of the oldetime forumites reported encountering him working out at a staten island high school field and concluded he was a dick in addition to being a Yankee fan.

[bmfc1]

M.O.T.: "Member of the Tribe, a colloquial term for Jews"--Wikipedia.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

ah. Indians fan.

[TransMonk]

The Cubs have very little to play for during this series. They need either a win or a Philly loss over the next week to secure homefield through the NL side of the playoffs.

The SNY booth was speculating yesterday that Marquis is not guaranteed a postseason roster spot, so this may be an audition of sorts for him. As for the rest of the series, they were relaying that according to their information they would be surprised to see a starter go more than 5 innings.

Going 6-6 in our twelve games against Washington and Atlanta makes these 4 with the Cubs that much more necessary. Right now, I think a split does very little for us. 3 of 4 would be nice and a sweep would rock. Anything less than a split will feel a lot like last year.

[metirish]

I'm very wary of playing the Cubs , and especially wary that they might have " very little to play for" in this series .Lou Piniella will not want any complacency creeping into his squad.

Danger here.

[bmfc1]

Some pertinent points from [u:8701d479f4]The Chicago Sun-Times[/u:8701d479f4]:

The Cubs "magic number" for best record in the NL is one.

The "framework" for starting pitchers is five innings.

Rest for the position players will be "spaced out."

Slumping Kosuke Fukudome will get some ABs.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/baseball/cubs/1176823,CST-SPT-cub22.article

[Benjamin Grimm]

I think a split would be okay if the Pirates manage, at the same time, to take two of three from the Brewers.

I'd like there to be a magic number no higher than 2 when we wake up on Friday morning.

To get there, we need a combination of Mets wins and Milwaukee losses that add up to four in the seven games that will be played over the next four days.

[HahnSolo]

I would think Lou would want his regular position players to see the Mets pitchers, since the Mets are a likely first round opponent.

[bmfc1]

From Adam Rubin:

[u:9bf8ac8294]Marquis vs. Mets (lifetime, 5-5, 4.55):[/u:9bf8ac8294]
Carlos Delgado .556, HR, 9 AB
Ramon Castro .455, 2 HR, 11 AB
Luis Castillo .409, 22 AB
Damion Easley .333, 3 AB
Fernando Tatis .333, 3 AB
Marlon Anderson .308, 13 AB
David Wright .300, HR, 20 AB
Jose Reyes .292, 24 AB
Endy Chavez .214, 14 AB
Ramon Martinez .176, 17 AB
Carlos Beltran .118, HR, 17 AB
Brian Schneider .059, 17 AB
Ryan Church .000, 2 AB

Here�s Cubs manager Lou Piniella, as quoted on the team�s Web site, about how they�ll approach the Mets series having already clinched the NL Central: �When we go to New York, we�ll play a team that�s in contention for the postseason, and we�ll play as representative a lineup as we can. At the same time, we still haven�t clinched home-field advantage for the playoffs, and we have to do that, hopefully. And then we have to look at a few positions on our team to ensure that we give people ample opportunity to make this team. There are probably a couple spots that we can play around with. �I can�t let these guys all sit. We have to use them to keep them as sharp as possible. We�ll play our regular lineup in these games (against the Mets). The worst thing that can happen is Major League Baseball calls us and tells us, �Hey, you people have a responsibility,� and we�re going to honor that.� � Ted Lilly has a career-high 16 wins. � Jason Marquis issued five walks against the Brewers while surrendering three runs in 5 1/3 innings in his last start. It was his first appearance in 11 days. � Reliever Chad Gaudin, who was obtained from the A�s on July 8, has been out for more than three weeks with lower-back soreness but is expected to see action this series. � Chicago has four players with 20-plus homers: Alfonso Soriano (29), Aramis Ramirez (26), Geovany Soto (23) and Mark DeRosa (20). Bergen Catholic�s DeRosa has set career highs for homers, RBI (83), walks (68) and runs (98). � Ramirez leads the Cubs with 109 RBI. He reached triple-figures in RBI before Sept. 1, the first Cub to do so since Sammy Sosa in 2001. � Infielder Ronny Cedeno is hitting .328 since July 24. � Jim Edmonds has started 54 of the Cubs� last 80 games in center field. � Kosuke Fukudome hit .193 in August and is hitting .217 this month. � Soto earned NL Rookie of the Month honors last month.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I wasn't aware that there was a "Rookie of the Month"

[G-Fafif]

In the week in which the results of the Ten Greatest Moments at Shea balloting is announced, it's noteworthy (perhaps) that Jason Marquis was the opposing starter in one of the finalists, September 21, 2001.

[bmfc1]

Remember what I pointed out earlier about Schneider and Castro vs. Marquis? I guess that was irrelevant to Jerry. I'm sure he knows better:

Reyes, ss
Murphy, lf
Wright, 3b
Delgado, 1b
Beltran, cf
Church, rf
Castillo, 2b
Schneider, c
Niese, p

Edited September 22, 2008 by Guest

[HahnSolo]

Would anybody beside me like to see Endy get a start in right against a righty? Church hasn't been himself. Plus the threat of a long ball off the bench from Church is greater than Endy's.

[Gwreck]

...have been talking about same for the past 3 days in various IGTs.

He can still put Church out for defense in the late innings if necessary but it's time for a day off for Ryan.

[Frayed Knot]

If I though for a second that Endy could actually hit I might switch them up.
But he can't.

[TransMonk]

Yeah...I can't believe I had to wait until 9/22 to say this, but Ryan Church is killing us.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

TransMonk wrote: Yeah...I can't believe I had to wait until 9/22 to say this, but Ryan Church is killing us.

I mean, they pinch hit Easley for him yesterday and he's literally lame.

[bmfc1]

[u:f73a96e6d1]Chicago Cubs[/u:f73a96e6d1]
Alfonso Soriano LF
Ronny Cedeno 2B
Derrek Lee 1B
Aramis Ramirez 3B
Geovany Soto C
Mark DeRosa RF
Reed Johnson CF
Ryan Theriot SS
Jason Marquis P

[u:f73a96e6d1]New York Mets[/u:f73a96e6d1]
Reyes, ss
Murphy, lf
Wright, 3b
Delgado, 1b
Beltran, cf
Church, rf
Castillo, 2b
Schneider, c
Niese, p

[Frayed Knot]

Seven more days, all we got to do is survive -- B. Dylan

[Benjamin Grimm]

Niese looking pretty good, but he gives up a double and a single with two out in the second.

Bottom of the inning, Delgado walks, Church singles him to third, and Delgado hustles home on a wild pitch.

1-1 after 2.

[TransMonk]

I like this Niese kid.

[metirish]

Marquis with a grand slam...season is officially a joke.

[Guest mario25]

A week left in the season and the Mets are starting a kid with 2 career starts

[TransMonk]

TransMonk wrote: I like this Niese kid.

I take it back. WTF...I go eat dinner for 15 minutes and I come back and we're fucked?

[Guest mario25]

5 rbi's for the opposing pitcher...real nice

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

Turn out the lights, the parties over...

[Guest mario25]

It is sad to watch this team fizzle out again....

[Frayed Knot]

Niese & Parnell playing out the 'Backup Quarterback Syndrome'

[bmfc1]

mario25 wrote: A week left in the season and the Mets are starting a kid with 2 career starts

Just like last year when Humber started the 4th to last game. That's how Omar's teams do it.