Pitching Matchups

Harden vs. Lannan
Zambrano vs. Olsen
Lilly vs. Zimmermann
TBA vs. Mock

Harden sucks right now but the Cubs need to start putting some distance between themselves and the .500 mark. 7 games in Washington and Philly and I would like to see them go at least 5 and 2. But knowing the Cubs this year we can probably pencil them in for a 3 and 4 trip.

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It's put up or shut up time on this road trip. Splitting against the Cards didn't do us any favors. If the Cards get Halladay time to wait till next year guys.

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Does your cat make too much noise? Try KITTEN MITTENS!


Charlie: Oh shit. Look at that door dude. See that door right there? That door marked 'Pirate'? You think a pirate lives in there?
Dennis: I see a door marked 'Private.'

I don't think the raggedy-ass redbirds will spend the money on Halladay. I unfortunately don't think that they'll need him, though, unless the Cub happen to find their bats in the 2nd half of the season...

I am waiting for Hardens' arm to fall the fuck off.
He needs to come out smoking tonight and the offense needs to do something more than 2 runs per game.If Soriano is back to leadoff I will have to break something.

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When I am stuck and need to figure something out I always remember the Immortal words of Socrates when he said:"I just drank what?"

For me it will be breaking my hand turning the remote so fast...

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Does your cat make too much noise? Try KITTEN MITTENS!


Charlie: Oh shit. Look at that door dude. See that door right there? That door marked 'Pirate'? You think a pirate lives in there?
Dennis: I see a door marked 'Private.'

Need 3 of 4 at least, but really should sweep the Nats.

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Fuck Edwards and Zobrist

NO. CHICAGO
1. R. Johnson, CF
2. R. Theriot, SS
3. M. Bradley, RF
4. D. Lee, 1B
5. A. Ramirez, 3B
6. A. Soriano, LF
7. J. Baker, 2B
8. K. Hill, C
9. R. Harden, P

Looks like Reed Mantle and Jeff Baker the Touchdown Maker getting the start against the lefty. Going to need to score some runs today with Harden on the mound. I am setting the over/under for Dunn home runs this series at 3.

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Good. I don't need to see a lot more Fukudome. That's a start.
Now, what to do about Soriano? He's got two weeks to get it going in the 2nd half. If he's not hitting 280 in July, he sits a minimum of 2/3rd the remaining games.
I can take a .230 average if you're a gold glover, hell that format worked for the Braves for years, but you can't be a butcher at the plate and in the field.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

I still am in Fukudome fan club, He is coming round and I kinda like him as a leadoff man . When Lou had him do it he looked comfortable in the spot but then Lou pulled the plug.

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When I am stuck and need to figure something out I always remember the Immortal words of Socrates when he said:"I just drank what?"

And don't forget that he hasn't hit a home run in over a month. .230 with no glove and no power and an OBP under.300? Yeah eventually that needs to get out of the lineup if he doesn't pick it up.

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Lannan has been very good and Harden has been pretty bad. I hope that changes tonight, as it would be nice to get the 2nd half going in a positive direction.

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Go Cubs!!!!

Man check the stats. Flunkydome needs to do his job a lot better before I think of him as a leadoff man.

Here's his leadoff stats chas...
25 AB, 4 R, 6 H. He's batting .240, .310 OBP. Does NOT look like a leadoff hitter.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

Better than Fonzie, At the point he was doing the job I thought I was looking at a gift from God man give me a break.

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When I am stuck and need to figure something out I always remember the Immortal words of Socrates when he said:"I just drank what?"

Theriot should be leading off. .299 AVG and a.354 OBP. And he actually battles and make pitchers work without swinging like a corkscrew and bailing them out on bad pitches

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I agree, I just think it is gettting close to sitting Soriano for a long period of time ,he is getting brutal.

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When I am stuck and need to figure something out I always remember the Immortal words of Socrates when he said:"I just drank what?"

By the way, I also disagree that he's coming around. Last 10... 32 AB, 6 hits. Hit a HR against the Braves. 4-1 loss that day.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

It's even better than than when you look at his 3 year stats in the leadoff spot...

218AB, 70H (.321 average!), .366 OBP, .417 SLG, .783OPS.
That's a leadoff hitter. Someone was trying to talk me into this recently and I believe he is right. Might have been RFDC.. I'd have to look back.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

I am not sure if it was me or not, but I have never been in favor of Fukodome hitting leadoff in place of Soriano. If Soriano is not in the leadoff it needs to be either Theriot or Fuld IMO.

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"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

Man I hate to say it but Fukudome is not a MLB quality hitter. Above average defense (not as good as Brenley drools) but man, you don't want this guy up with RISP 2 Outs.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

Any lineup with Baker, Hill and Johnson in it is bad.

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Fuck Edwards and Zobrist

Just as bad as one with Fontenot and Fuku in it. Cubs have a lot of bad.

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Soriano is a straight up asshole. Guy's batting .232. Every hit to his position has a pretty good chance at being dropped or misplayed, and he still does that faggy hop. What the hell is it with this guy?

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

Good lord they're nutting on themselves about that fuckin Reed Mantle catch again. It wouldn't have been a tough catch if he took a direct route to the ball. Wow, he makes routine catches look hard. What a great defensive outfielder!!!!!

Hopefully he's gonna sit the rest of the series out. Another BONER from Soriano.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

I hate to say it, for fear that it turns around, but so far so good, for Harden. I know, the Nats have been bad this year for the most part, but I was still not at all comfortable with tonight's match-up, as bad as Harden had been.

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Go Cubs!!!!

I hope the Cub win this game, though I doubt they will.

Pat Huhges never sounded better. It's amazing how he can work with anyone, no matter who, and make the broadcast listenable. This is the first broadcast I have heard with Moreland, but he is really good. Just don't ask him to play the outfield. As a left fielder, he was a good hitter.

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We all have private ails. The troublemakers are they who need public cures for their private ails.- Eric Hoffer

Cubs have 2 run scoring hits with 2 outs today. Nice improvement. However... it's the Nationals.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

That or third base....

After the '87 season, Vance Law compared to Moreland looked like Brooks Robinson

That only proves Rev. Watkins right. The Cub don't have to get better, the other teams just have to get a little bit worse.

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We all have private ails. The troublemakers are they who need public cures for their private ails.- Eric Hoffer

I don't assign the wins any style points. I'll take what the Cubs can get and hope for the best. Not exactly world shattering expectations, but it's where this team is at right now. They've got to beat the bad teams and so far tonight, they are.

Update: can't have it too easy. Gregg has to add some uncertainty to the mix. Groan.

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Stupidity irritates the crap outta me... and yes, I irritate myself far too often.