This is all on Marmol now.

Marmol for the 5 out save. I approve.

Lou must be reading this board from a laptop in the dugout.

retro, what I mean was that on the replays I could see it was a no doubter. But when he hit it, I wondered why he was watching it. Lee hit one earlier that would have a HR yesterday, so I thought the wind was gonna knock it down.

And the double-switch brings Cedeno in to play short, which is probably an upgrade.

retro, what I mean was that on the replays I could see it was a no doubter.

Yeah, with the wind blowing in, he must've smoked it. GameDay made it look like it cleared the wall by plenty.

This umps strike zone is inconsistent as hell.

I was just thinking, Feliz is the sort of free swinger Marmol should eat alive.

That last third strike by Marmol was maybe the nastiest pitch he has thrown all year.

My goodness, Marmol is a ####### stud.

Coste lost his bat at strike 3 there.

Oh my, was that a thing of beauty. No one quite like Marmol.

Well, that was one heck of an embarrassing AB for Coste. Boy, did Marmol make him look foolish.

Man. Carlos gets a hitter in an 0-1 hole, he's gotta be as tough as any pitcher in baseball. He's got a tough assignment next inning.

MLB Gameday has Soriano's HR up.

Marmol:

72.3 IP
32 H
3.93 H/9

No pitcher in baseball history has ever allowed less than 4 hits per 9 innings in a season in which he threw more than 50 innings.

MLB Gameday has Soriano's HR up.

Yeah, but I can't watch it on my crapass work PC. I'll have to wait till I get home.

Be very nice to get an insurance run here.

If Phillies can avoid giving up runs in the 8th (which has been disaster area for last 3 weeks ), they'll have 4 lefties to start the 9th.

Good patience by the Cubs today--7 walks. Of course, the Phils have drawn 6.

If Phillies can avoid giving up runs in the 8th (which has been disaster area for last 3 weeks ), they'll have 4 lefties to start the 9th.

I suspect they'll have those lefties regardless.

Nice job Edmonds. Now lets get at least one of the runners home.

Attaboy, TOFU. Cash in, Clutchy.

Clutchy with the sac. Whatever.

I have a deep aversion to players named R. Cedeno. Help me out with that.

Damn. Nice AB, though.

Bah. He swings like Roger.

Dammit. Pinch hit Fontenot here?

Wasn't Roger lefthanded?

Well, that's a fairly shitty AB from Heinrich Weiss. Marmol's got his work cut out for him.

Double damn.

PH Fontenot for Hank, retro, is that what you were suggesting? The Phils had a lefty ready, so Lou could have burned him and Lou could have had Soto face the LHP. And I have no problem with DeRo's sacrifice. It was the right move.

Decent AB by Ronny after falling behind early, he did swing at ball 4 twice though.

No pitcher in baseball history has ever allowed less than 4 hits per 9 innings in a season in which he threw more than 50 innings.

Really? That is mindblowing stuff from Marmol then.

I didn't really object to the sac, though I have a lot of confidence in DeRosa these days.

And yeah, that's exactly what I was suggesting re. Fontenot--I'm happy to have him facing the righthander, or Soto facing the lefty.

Really? That is mindblowing stuff from Marmol then.

Really. (So sayeth Pat Hughes, and B-R confirms.)

Here are the H/9 leaders among pitchers who have thrown >75 IP:

Player - H/9 - IP - Year

Eric Gagne - 4.04 - 82.1 - 2003
Armando Benitez - 4.62 - 76 - 2000
Armando Benitez - 4.62 - 78 - 1999
Vicente Romo - 4.7 - 84.1 - 1968
Jim Brewer - 4.71 - 78.1 - 1972
Ryne Duren - 4.76 - 75.2 - 1958
Andy Messersmith - 4.87 - 81.1 - 1968
Toad Ramsey - 5.01 - 79 - 1885
Ferdie Schupp - 5.07 - 140.1 - 1916
Trevor Hoffman - 5.11 - 88 - 1996

Gagne was pretty unreal that year.

>100 IP:

Ferdie Schupp - 5.07 - 140.1 - 1916
J.R. Richard - 5.15 - 113.2 - 1980
Mitch Williams - 5.22 - 108.2 - 1987
Nolan Ryan - 5.26 - 284 - 1972
Rich Gossage - 5.28 - 133 - 1977
Luis Tiant - 5.3 - 258.1 - 1968
Pedro Martinez - 5.31 - 217 - 2000
Nolan Ryan - 5.31 - 173 - 1991
Tommy Byrne - 5.32 - 133.2 - 1948
Ted Abernathy - 5.33 - 106.1 - 1967

> 200 IP

Nolan Ryan - 5.26 - 284 1 - 972
Luis Tiant - 5.3 - 258.1 - 1968
Pedro Martinez - 5.31 - 217 - 2000
Ed Reulbach - 5.33 - 218 - 1906
Dutch Leonard - 5.57 - 224.2 - 1914
Carl Lundgren - 5.65 - 207 - 1907
Dave McNally - 5.77 - 273 - 1968
Sandy Koufax - 5.79 - 335.2 - 1965
Russ Ford - 5.83 - 299.2 - 1910
Bob Gibson - 5.85 - 304.2 - 1968

Decent AB by Ronny after falling behind early, he did swing at ball 4 twice though.

Then again, it sounds like what ball four is or is not might vary from pitch to pitch today, so I guess he can't be faulted.

Roger Cedeno was a switch-hitter. Although I use the term "hitter" advisedly.

That was a nice over the shoulder catch by DLee.

Atta boy, Derrek! One more, Cubbies!

Heh, Marmol has a .130 BAA this season and a .505 OPSA

What the hell was wrong with that 2-0 pitch? This umpire is driving me nuts.

According to game center, it was right down the middle belt high.

22! 18! Go, Cubs, Go!

ATTABOY, CARLOS!!!

Cubs win!!

Mets win!!

Everybody wins!!

Cubs win baby! Go Cubs Go!
That last pitch by Marmol was filthy.

W!

Marmol is arguably the most dominating pitcher in all of baseball.

I love Marmol-aid.

The starting pitching is starting to concern me despite the wins.

First MLB win for Bullpen Jesus. Amen to that.

Congrats Cubbies fans. Starting pitching or no they are hot hot hot right now.

Marmol being cured of his month-long case of Steve Blass Disease is one of the best things in a second half full of good things. Other than that stretch, he's been just about automatic.

I don't think Marmol speaks any English. If he does, this interview is very deceiving.

If they win tomorrow, will that be 9 series in a row they have won? Just incredible. What a magical season.

The starting pitching is starting to concern me despite the wins.

Meh. You worry too much. I still think Zambrano'll be fine despite his awful August, even when Harden's off he goes 5 and doesn't give up much, and I'm not exactly sounding the alarms on Dempster after 1 mediocre start against a good offense. Lilly's been solid after his awful start.

Believe it'll be 10 straight series, Steve.

Hell, even Marquis looked good in last start-granting that he faced the Pirates,

It'll be 10 in a row, I think, which'll include two 4 game series (Mil, and this one).

Wow, ten straight series. That is as impressive as it gets.

Wow, ten straight series. That is as impressive as it gets.

21 straight, the last coming around Halloween, would be yet more impressive.

I don't think Marmol speaks any English.

That's gonna sink his chances on the LPGA tour.

Well that, and he's not a lesbian.

What a magical season.

Yes . . . and no. It's not magic when the team is really, really good, top to bottom. It's just damned impressive. And these Cubs certainly are.

It just feels like magic. ;-)

I should add-not that there is anything wrong with that,

Well that, and he's not a lesbian.

You sure? I bet if you asked him, he'd say he likes women.

Sam, I have been a Cubs fan for all of my 38 years. I have never followed a team this fun. Its more then the simple winning, its the fact that this team is likable (unlike say the Dusty years) and that everyone on the team, even the backup catcher, has contributed this season. No matter what they do, this is my favorite team. My son and I watched every game while he was with me this summer, something I hope he always remembers.

My son and I watched every game while he was with me this summer, something I hope he always remembers.

Now, that's magical.