SB Nation User Blog: northsider

DeRosa talks All-Stars in latest blog entry

northsider — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 06:55:45 -0000

DeRosa talks All-Stars in latest blog entry

As you might expect, Mark has updated his Pulse blog with a discussion on the All-Star Game.

Rich Hill changes his delivery, fires strikes in Mesa

northsider — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 03:05:32 -0000

Hill shows the tilt in his old delivery.

Arizona Phil has posted a report from Fitch Park over at The Cub Reporter (pops). According to the article, Rich Hill has changed his delivery and was able to throw strike after strike after strike in a simulated game. Now it's a battle against muscle memory for Rich as he tries to return to Chicago.

He no longer tilts his shoulder and head back to the exent he had been doing (a la Fernando Valenzuela), which allows him to keep his eyes on the catcher's target...
[Hill] was absolutely unhittable today.

The curves literally buckled the knees of the young AZL Cubs hitters, and (probably more importantly) he was able to consistently throw his fastball for strikes And maybe most importantly, Hill looked relaxed and he even was able to crack a smile at one point. (One of the telltale symptoms of Steve Blass Disease is the inability to smile).

Hit up TCR if you want to read the rest of report, but this is encouraging news. Phil speculates that Hill may be returned to Iowa immediately to build up a pitch count and try out his delivery against tougher hitters.

Poll

Do you expect to see Rich Hill back in Chicago (in uniform, on the roster) this season?

Whoops. The camera caught Kerry Wood at an inopportune time. [Content Warning: Obscene Ges...

northsider — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 17:50:14 -0000

Whoops. The camera caught Kerry Wood at an inopportune time. [Content Warning: Obscene Gesture]

By Request: Pat and Ron's call of the Ramirez walk-off. (C) MLB/WGN-AM/Cubs.

northsider — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 05:52:05 -0000

By Request: Pat and Ron's call of the Ramirez walk-off. (C) MLB/WGN-AM/Cubs.

Crosstown Classic '08: White Sox at Cubs (Preview and Open Thread)

northsider — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 02:34:14 -0000

Already visited? Click to skip to the comments!

The White Sox come into this game 4.5 games ahead of Minnesota for the AL Central Division lead and are 5-5 in their last 10, but have been very hot lately as they ride a three-game win streak. The Sox are slightly underperforming their expected 44-28 record with a still strong mark of 41-31, 17-20 on the road. The Pale Hose have scored 356 runs and given up 274. (For comparison, the Cubs have scored 396 and allowed 295.) Using this season's numbers, the Cubs should have an offensive advantage, as they lead baseball in BA, OBP, 2nd in R, and are 3rd in BB. The Sox are 11th in BA, 9th in OBP, 6th in R, and 14th in BB. Lately, however, the Cubs offense has struggled (as they have on the road all season) and the Sox are firing on all cylinders, so this may be a lot closer than it appears.

On the pitching side of things, the White Sox and Cubs are close, but the South Siders should have a slight edge. The White Sox are first in ERA (Cubs 3rd), 3rd in fewest hits (Cubs 4th), 2nd in RA (Cubs 4th), 2nd in HR allowed (an impressive 54, while the Cubs have allowed 70, good for 15th-T). The Sox have walked just 202 in 650.2 IP (2.79 BB/9), and the Cubs have walked 252 in 654.2 (3.46 BB/9). In strikeouts, the Sox have fanned 510 (7.06 SO/9), the Cubs 538 (7.01 SO/9).

So the two are pretty close by the numbers. In the last 10, the Sox are 5-5 and the Cubs 6-4, but the Tampa Bay series was a tough one while the Sox absolutely creamed the Pirates. However, despite the disappointing sweep at the hands (fins?) of the Rays, the Cubs' offense has been significantly worse on the road all season, and you can't expect the bullpen to have a similar meltdown again. It will be up to the Cubs to shake off the road blues and get back to the hot hitting and great pitching that has allowed them to go 29-8 at Wrigley Field.

Pitching Matchups (information in scouting reports from MLB.com)

Friday:

50 John Danks LHP (4-4, 2.90 ERA, 80.7 IP, 77 H, 26 ER, 6 HR, BB/SO: 24/61, 150 ERA+, 1.252 WHIP)
vs
30 Ted Lilly LHP (7-5, 4.76 ERA, 85.0 IP, 82 H, 45 ER, 14 HR, BB/SO: 31/83, 93 ERA+, 1.329 WHIP)

Danks is coming off an interesting outing Saturday against Colorado. He didn't give up any runs in 6 IP but runners did reach third base in four different innings. Danks hasn't lost since May 24 and will face the Cubs for the first time in his career. He's 0-1, 5.31 ERA in four interleague games.

RESULT: CUBS 4, WHITE SOX 3

W: K. Wood
L: S. Linebrink

Saturday:

52 Jose Contreras RHP (6-5, 3.24 ERA, 95.0 IP, 84 H, 34 ER, 4 HR, BB/SO: 24/55, 134 ERA+, 1.145 WHIP)
vs
21 Jason Marquis RHP (5-3, 4.24 ERA, 74.3 IP, 81 H, 35 ER, 6 HR, BB/SO: 30/37, 105 ERA+, 1.493 WHIP)

Contreras went 6.2 against Colorado on Sunday, allowing three earned runs and striking out three. His last pitch was a Brad Hawpe home run that put Colorado up 4-3. The Cubs have lost three straight for the first time all season, and Contreras can sympathize: he lost back-to-back starts for the first time in 2008. He took the loss against the Cubs last year after "scattering" 10 hits but only giving up 2 runs.

RESULT: CUBS 11, WHITE SOX 7

W: J. Marquis
L: J. Contreras
S: K. Wood

Sunday:

33 Javier Vazquez RHP (7-5, 4.13 ERA, 96.0 IP, 102 H, 44 ER, 11 HR, BB/SO: 24/93, 106 ERA+, 1.313 WHIP)
vs
46 Ryan Dempster RHP (8-2, 2.76 ERA, 94.2 IP, 66 H, 29 ER, 9 HR, BB/SO: 37/81, 161 ERA+, 1.088 WHIP)

Vazquez got roughed up by the Pirates Tuesday night, giving up 5 runs in 6 and striking out 3. But thanks to the South Siders' excellent offense, Javier still got a W. He's allowed 14 runs in his last three starts but is getting plenty of run support to go 3-0. He has a 4.95 ERA in his career against the Cubs, but his control has been excellent: two walks, 23 strikeouts.

It won't be the same home advantage the Cubs have enjoyed all year in terms of crowd composition, but it WILL be Wrigley Field, where the Cubs have played great ball. Can the Sox continue to get league-best pitching even against the league's best offense? Similarly, can the Cubs get some runs against baseball's best pitching staff after going cold in sunny Tampa? Will the Cubs' bullpen get back on track? Will the entire bleachers get arrested?? We'll find out tomorrow!

Poll

How will the Cubs do this weekend against the White Sox?

Former Cubs skipper gets another shot in Seattle

northsider — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:59:29 -0000

In line with the firing of GM Bill Bavasi, Seattle has dismissed manager John McLaren, who went 66-68 at the helm of the Mariners. Guess who's taking over? From the Mariners' official site:

Jim Riggleman, who was on the Mariners staff as the bench coach, has been named manager for the remainder of the 2008 season. He is the 13th full-time manager in Mariners history. "Jim is an experienced baseball man with broad experience as both a Major League manager and coach. He is intimately familiar with our club and I believe he will do a fine job," Pelekoudas said.

Seattle is 25-47 and in last place in the AL West, 17.5 games behind the Angels. The team is off today, with their series in Atlanta set to begin tomorrow afternoon. The Mariners are 3-7 in their last 10.

Riggleman was Cubs manager from 1995-1999, winning the Wild Card in '98. He also managed the Padres for 12 games in 1992 and 1993-1994. Riggleman takes his 486-598 career record into the Mariners dugout with him.

Riggleman's Year-by-Year Results with Chicago
1995: 73-71 (3rd place)
1996: 76-86 (4th)
1997: 68-94 (5th)
1998: 90-73 (2nd, Wild Card)
1999: 67-95 (6th)
Total: 374-419 (.472)

Let's hear your favorite Riggleman/Cubs memories!

6/17 Postgame: Comments from Lou and Dempster

northsider — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 03:21:38 -0000

Mike Carlson - AP

Piniella:

I didn't tell [Reed] to do that, he probably thought he could get the third baseman napping. [Longoria] made a real nice barehand play of the ball on a hop and the first baseman made a nice catch. Good game, exciting game. Both pitchers threw a lot of pitches. Dempster is coming back on Sunday after 5 days rest, he threw 106 pitches so we got him out of there. He did okay, you pitch one-run ball for 5 innings. You gotta be pleased. Just a lot of pitches and he was working hard today.

Dempster:

It was a battle, had some long pitch counts. We had our chances . The Rays are a good team, I've seen it all year. They've got a real good pitching staff, good bullpen. A lot of good young players. They're going to be good not only this year but for a long time. They give you a battle every at-bat and you've gotta work your tail off. They've got something special here. (someone asks him about Cliff's HR, Dempster mumbles the next few sentences half-under his breath.) Cliff...that mother-scratcher. What are you gonna do? I thought he hit it off the end a little. If anything it was my pitch hitting his bat. That's all. (media laughs)

Poll

Reed Johnson bunted with the tying run at third and 2 out in the 9th. Right call?

Reports: Murton up, Patterson down

northsider — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 04:16:06 -0000

Per Paul Sullivan at the Trib:

Manager Lou Piniella said Saturday the Cubs have lacked a corner outfielder and another right-handed hitter since Alfonso Soriano went on the disabled list last week. Murton fills the bill, and major-league sources said he received word on Sunday he'd be called up. Murton, a .296 career hitter in the majors in 830 at-bats, was batting .298 at Iowa with one home run and 15 RBIs since being demoted from the Cubs in April. After getting his average into the .360s in late May, Murton has slumped of late, hitting .143 in 49 at-bats in June with no homers and three RBIs.

HT: Geo4MVP

Poll

Do you agree with the move?

OT: Mariners fire GM Bill Bavasi

northsider — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 19:55:24 -0000

According to the Mariners' official site:

Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations & General Manager Bill Bavasi had been relieved of his duties with the club.

Vice President/Associate General Manager Lee Pelekoudas will take over as the interim General Manager, effective immediately. He is the eighth General Manager in club history.

"Change is in order." Lincoln said. "We have determined new leadership is needed in the GM position. With a new leader will come a new plan and a new approach. A search will begin immediately for a permanent GM, and Lee will be a candidate for the position."

The Mariners are last in the AL West with a record of 24-45, 17.5 games behind the first-place Angels.

UPDATE (5:37 PM): This article provides Bavasi's moves, zero trades with the Cubs.

Poll

Does this move make it more or less likely that the Cubs acquire SP Erik Bedard?

Awful Announcing: Recap of '48 Style Throwback Telecast

northsider — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 00:54:49 -0000

Awful Announcing: Recap of '48 Style Throwback Telecast

Awful Announcing blog covers the WGN telecast, with a couple video clips. (By the way, despite being named "Awful Announcing", the review is quite favorable.)

SB Nation User Blog: northsider

DeRosa talks All-Stars in latest blog entry

DeRosa talks All-Stars in latest blog entry

Rich Hill changes his delivery, fires strikes in Mesa

Do you expect to see Rich Hill back in Chicago (in uniform, on the roster) this season?

Whoops. The camera caught Kerry Wood at an inopportune time. [Content Warning: Obscene Ges...

By Request: Pat and Ron's call of the Ramirez walk-off. (C) MLB/WGN-AM/Cubs.

Crosstown Classic '08: White Sox at Cubs (Preview and Open Thread)

How will the Cubs do this weekend against the White Sox?

Former Cubs skipper gets another shot in Seattle

How would you grade Riggleman's performance as Cubs manager?

6/17 Postgame: Comments from Lou and Dempster

Reed Johnson bunted with the tying run at third and 2 out in the 9th. Right call?

Reports: Murton up, Patterson down

Do you agree with the move?

OT: Mariners fire GM Bill Bavasi

Does this move make it more or less likely that the Cubs acquire SP Erik Bedard?

Awful Announcing: Recap of '48 Style Throwback Telecast

Awful Announcing: Recap of '48 Style Throwback Telecast