It's a long season.

The Cubs made the plays the needed to be made. The Brewers did not.

Awful baserunning. Chasing balls in the dirt. Terrible error.

Yuck

Post 1:

Sometimes it DOES matter HOW you lose.

The Brewers lost 1 if not 3 runs in that 6th inning due to moronic baserunning.

Doesn't that bother you? That after THIS long in the majors guys like Hart and Hall are running with virtually no clue as to how to gauge risk??

I thought this game was a perfect microcosm of why the Cubs remain better than the Brewers. The Cubs have a good bullpen. The Brewers do not.

The Brewers, finding themselves in a tie game in possibly the most important game they've played so far this season, in the 9th inning, send out: Salomon Torres. (Yes, I realize Torres has a great ERA. His peripherals don't support it.) And that's AFTER they used Eric "6.26 ERA" Gagne in the eighth.

The Brewers are riding Sabathia hard, and that's what they're going to need to get into October: Lots and lots of innings from Sheets and Sabathia.

Cardinals won tonight and are now 4 back in the division (Milwaukee is two games back).

The Diamonbacks lead the Dodgers by one game and the Mets, Phillies & Marlins are all within a game of each other.

Lots of fun to be had in the NL.

Well Justin, NTN has been promoting Dave Bush for the bullpen for 18 months now. A lot of Brewer fans agree. But Ned and Co. don't.

The Brewers, finding themselves in a tie game in possibly the most important game they've played so far this season, in the 9th inning, send out: Salomon Torres. (Yes, I realize Torres has a great ERA. His peripherals don't support it.) And that's AFTER they used Eric "6.26 ERA" Gagne in the eighth.

Well, the Cubs' relief tonight was GasCan Howry, Gaudin (who looked good), and the unpredictable Marmol.

Better than the Brewers, yes, but you still want to reach for the Tums when the doors open to the Cubs bullpen lately.

To be fair, Justin, Bob Howry pitched the 7th for the Cubs.

And to be fair on the other side Harv, the Cubs gave up a run by sending Lee home for no apparent reason while Cameron had the ball in his hand in CF. But yeah, I have a hard time seeing Lilly get out of that inning without the Brewers help. He only got 1 out on his pitches that inning.

Bob Howry, Bob Howry. Despite all the hits, his K/BB ratio this year is 37:7. This is the first year since 2003 that his ERA is over 3.40. I know everyone hates their team's bullpen because we only remember when things go wrong, but Bob Howry is a veritable Papelbon compared to Torres and Gagne circa 2008.

but Bob Howry is a veritable Papelbon compared to Torres and Gagne circa 2008.

Howry allows a lot of HR (10 in 51 IP), Torres doesn't (3 in 56 IP). That matters.

In the Game Chatter, Harvey mentioned that he didn't care for Weeks's cocksure ways, acting as though his antics in the field and struggles at the plate weren't a problem. I wouldn't expect an athlete to act any differently on the field. Rarely does a guy make an error and start pouting on the field in view of everyone else. But I would like to know if Weeks manages to sleep tonight. If he does, then maybe we can start discussing his attitude.

Justin:

This goes back a LONG ways.

The acquisition of Durham was partially intended to send Weeks a bit of notice.

I thought this game was a perfect microcosm of why the Cubs remain better than the Brewers. The Cubs have a good bullpen. The Brewers do not.

Um, how was Howry last week? Maybe you should choose one of those games to be your microcosm...or you could just wait for your real closer to come back from his 113th injury. I'm sure he will be completely reliable in the coming months.

HW:

I'm sure it was meant to wake Weeks up, and it sure looked to be working right from the get-go. But Weeks's awfulness in the field is disturbing. Counsell would be a better defensive sub late for Weeks, but even if Durham were in there instead at least he would do something productive with balls that he gets to.

Johnson was coming in hard on that DP but 2Bman deal with that all the time and they make those plays. On that ground ball, I think Weeks is the only 2Bman in the game that I would hold my breath out of fear he would throw it away. On that play I was grimacing while at the same time trying to convince myself I was being silly, but Weeks managed to screw it up royally.

I'm also with the crowd that would be hesitant to trade him in the offseason because I think there's a very good chance he settles down and lets the game come to him and goes berzerk for the next decade. But for right here, right now, yucko.

Cubs bullpen looks to be getting stronger down the stretch. Gaudin looks good and Jeff Gobblygook looks to do good as well. When Wood comes back that is three good arms with an iffy on Marmol. If Marmol isn't toast that is a great bullpen for the stretch run.

I'm not sure if the Cardinals should be rooting for the Cubs or Brewers. I'm not sure what kind of chances we have at winning the division, so we might want the Cubs to sweep the Brewers to give us a better shot at the Wild Card. It's all very confusing.

Marmol's still walking too many guys, but he hasn't given up a run since that nightmare performance just before the all star break.

He looks much better than where he was in June-Mid July.

Chicago Tribune: Samardzija in the mix for role as Cubs' closer

Wood will miss at least the next four games and probably more. Despite the fact that Samardzija was a starter all through the minors and has only two games of major league experience, Piniella has seen enough to believe the former Notre Dame football star can handle the job.

"We're going to pitch whoever is available, whoever is the freshest," Piniella said. "I've got three people I can throw out there in the closer's role. We can just rotate it around and throw the freshest arm."
...
But Wood's return from the blister problem is not imminent, Piniella said, and the right-hander is expected to miss the entire series in Milwaukee.

That would give Wood three weeks of rest since his last appearance on July 11, and it could be much longer. Wood threw a bullpen session on Monday, but it did not go well.
...
Carlos Marmol will remain as the primary closer until further notice, and Piniella also has Bob Howry available in reserve.

The second part of that last sentence is funny.

I'm torn on Samardzija in the closer's role. It's too early to tell how dominating he'll be and like most people pointed out earlier in the season, a lot of the true saves come in the seventh and eighth innings. I'd rather have him show up there and let Carlos do his thing in the ninth, since he IS the team's closer of the future.

That quote from Lou about the 3 guys in the mix was before the game. I have a hard time seeing Howry getting any save chances.

This was 1 game. I'd expect Sheets to dominate tomorrow. Bullpen won't be needed.

BPro's Postseason Odds lists the Cubs and Brewers as the two teams most likely to make the playoffs in the NL (89.6% and 73.2% respectively).

The paper didn't even bother mentioning the Brewers absurd gaffes on the bases last night.

And all Yost could talk about was the game atmosphere.

Does he think the team is playing in a rec league championship?

I'm not sure if the Cardinals should be rooting for the Cubs or Brewers....It's all very confusing.

Just win and you don't have to worry---things will take care of themselves....

This was 1 game. I'd expect Sheets to dominate tomorrow. Bullpen won't be needed.

Sample size caveats apply, but...

In 11.1IP this year (2 starts) against the Cubs, Sheets has 9BBs. Cubs only have 5 hits and 4 runs, but they seem to at least see the ball of him. In the previous 3 years (05-07), in 42.2IP Sheets has a 4.64era against them. Sheets seemed to own the Cubs for the longest time, but they've hit him much better recently. I don't think he's going to "dominate" today and I fully expect the Cubs to get to the Brewers pen again. Mr. Complete game couldn't even go 7 yesterday.

For the record, Zambrano has thrown 13IP against the Brewers this year (2 starts) with an 0.69 era; 10hits, 3bbs, and 8ks. For the previous 3 years (05-07), in 72IP he has a 4.88era against them (8hr and 33bbs).

It should be another close game.

Harveys,

The baserunning was (and has been all season) terrible. But do you really think Yost is gonna comment on that? That goes right back to him. Fielding woes, hitting problems, you can blame that on talent. These baserunning gaffes are mental errors, and I find it extremely hard to believe that EVERY Brewer is stupid.

It's up to the manager to instruct his players on how to run the bases. It's up to the third-base coach to hold or send the runner rounding second.

I've called for Yost's firing in the past -- though I still don't think he's any more deserving of his job now, you don't change horses on a winning team -- I do think, however, that Dale Sveum needs to go. He has no business in that coach's box. None. He's costing us outs, costing us runs, costing us WINS.

But no. Ned and Doug hired Dale. To fire him would be to admit it was a mistake hiring him.

"I do think, however, that Dale Sveum needs to go. He has no business in that coach's box. None. He's costing us outs, costing us runs, costing us WINS."

It's a shame, because Sveum really IS a legitimately good instructor, as far as hitting and fielding and such. He did a nice job on that kind of stuff when he was working in the Pirates' system.

He's just no good at sending/holding runners.

Well, the Cubs' relief tonight was GasCan Howry, Gaudin (who looked good), and the unpredictable Marmol

We all need to be this unpredictable.

All four games of the series had been sold out -- before tonight's game ticket scalpers were demanding a cool $1,000 for seats behind home plate, $100 for a spot in the outfield bleachers. The series was being hailed by longtime locals as the biggest since the Yankees came to town in September of '82.

I had seats for tomorrow's game, but I have to help my daughter move so I sold them last week at face value.

The Brewer baserunning did leave a little to be desired, but nothing they did was as befuddling as sending Lee to the slaughter with one out and Theriot coming up. In fact Hart going to third may have earned the Brewers the lead. If he stops at second, then Lee does not cut off the throw and Prince may be out at home. I hope the whole series is this exciting. I was happy with last night's results, but either way this is a great time to be a fan.

Sample size caveats apply, but...

In 11.1IP this year (2 starts) against the Cubs, Sheets has 9BBs. Cubs only have 5 hits and 4 runs, but they seem to at least see the ball of him. In the previous 3 years (05-07), in 42.2IP Sheets has a 4.64era against them. Sheets seemed to own the Cubs for the longest time, but they've hit him much better recently. I don't think he's going to "dominate" today and I fully expect the Cubs to get to the Brewers pen again. Mr. Complete game couldn't even go 7 yesterday.

The Cubs actually lead the majors in BBs -- so I would say it's decidedly not a trick of sample size.

That, to me, is the most amazing team statistic of this entire season and the least-mentioned reason for the team's success. It's not just Fukudome, either -- Theriot and A-Ram have both upped their walk rates prodigiously, Soto is walking more than he did in the minors.

This is the most patient Cubs team since the 1984 division winners.

Definitely, zonk. It baffles me that they've continued to be so patient. When they were scuffling the last couple of weeks, it was because they abandoned that approach.

It was interesting last night, because the strategy against CC was clearly to be aggressive and hit the fastball early in the count. They were able to do that, and still run up his pitch count. It was great, even though they left a lot of guys on.

"I do think, however, that Dale Sveum needs to go. He has no business in that coach's box. None. He's costing us outs, costing us runs, costing us WINS."

It's a shame, because Sveum really IS a legitimately good instructor, as far as hitting and fielding and such. He did a nice job on that kind of stuff when he was working in the Pirates' system.

Plus he's a former Calgary Cannon, and I believe that should count for something.

It's a shame, because Sveum really IS a legitimately good instructor, as far as hitting and fielding and such. He did a nice job on that kind of stuff when he was working in the Pirates' system.

OK... he may well be -- but using "work in the Pirates system" isn't very good evidence unless that work "in the Pirates system" came before about 1990 or so. You don't need more than a few fingers to count Pirates system developmental success stories - while you need a calculator to count the abject failures. Not trying to pick a fight, just saying that were I a coach looking for a job -- I think any time I spent in the Bucs system would be something I'd leave off the resume.

The Cubs must have checked their swing and gotten a ball called a dozen times last night. I am not complaining about the umpiring. Just noting that it happened with remarkable consistency.

I was concerned that CC would be too excited about the game last night and whether it was that or something else he simply did not have the control he showed in previous outings. He was off a hair all night, hence the pitch count. He repeatedly got ahead of guys and then could not finish them off. He voiced that exact frustration after the game.

But CC was not the problem. Ryan Braun was not the problem. Nor was Hardy nor was Fielder. Those guys are the core of the team and they all showed up.

What undermined the Brewers and will continue to haunt them is the dropoff AFTER those guys. While Soriano and Lee "did their thing" and got just enough help around them the Brewers supporting cast of both pitchers and position players were abject failures.

Ned wants his guys to be aggressive but he doesn't teach them to be smart about it. For every Weeks getting an extra base on a botched pickoff you have Hall running into outs. It doesn't show in any published stats but I am convinced the Brewers lead the world in runners getting picked off. It happens just about every other game including pickoffs at SECOND. And the same with the constant tries to stretch hits. By my count Corey Hart has been thrown out four times this season trying to stretch a double into a triple. Who does that??

So you have a third base coach known to be poor at judging risk, a manager encouraging his players to take chances without assessing risk and dumb players like Weeks who couldn't determine the risk level of bathing in gasoline and juggling torches.

My head hurts.

"OK... he may well be -- but using "work in the Pirates system" isn't very good evidence unless that work "in the Pirates system" came before about 1990 or so. You don't need more than a few fingers to count Pirates system developmental success stories - while you need a calculator to count the abject failures. Not trying to pick a fight, just saying that were I a coach looking for a job -- I think any time I spent in the Bucs system would be something I'd leave off the resume."

Yeah, I know that "he temporarily turned around JJ Davis's attitude" isn't going to look great on a HOF plaque, but during the Pirates' lost decade of player development, Sveum had a rep here in Pittsburgh as the one guy in the whole machine who really knew what he was doing.

If you want to be technical, there was also Chris Chambliss's one season as a roving instructor, and Woody Huyke had some admirers. But that's pretty much it.

The series was being hailed by longtime locals as the biggest since the Yankees came to town in September of '82.

Even bigger than the World Series that was played there three weeks later.

Of course, that didn't involve the Yankees.

you still want to reach for the Tums when the doors open to the Cubs bullpen lately

you want to run for the can when the doors open to the cards bullpen. what a train wreck.

Howry's a joke. He still doesn't walk anybody, but he's lost his ability to spot his low-90s fastball (which is pretty much all he throws) within the strike zone, with predictable results. I didn't like seeing him in a 1-run game to begin with last night, but after he got the first two outs, I commented to my friend that I especially hated the Howry/Branyan matchup.

you want to run for the can when the doors open to the cards bullpen. what a train wreck.

I suppose things are pretty bad when Izzy v.2008 manages to reclaim the closer's role.

but Bob Howry is a veritable Papelbon compared to Torres and Gagne circa 2008.

As a Cub fan, I can only say, WTF? (Well, OK, Gagne sucks.)

Also, how the hell does a blister not heal in 3 weeks? I can see it recurring if you don't stop throwing the ball, but this seems bizarre to me.

Speaking of WTFs, a neighbor of mine mentioned that he's got Howry on his fantasy team. I asked him if home runs allowed was a positive category in his league.

Also, how the hell does a blister not heal in 3 weeks? I can see it recurring if you don't stop throwing the ball, but this seems bizarre to me.

At that rate he may be blind by the time he's ready to come back.

When they were scuffling the last couple of weeks, it was because they abandoned that approach.

Yes. It was shades of the 2006 "offense," which was one of the ugliest offenses I've ever seen in terms of approach at the plate. Walks definitely clogged the bases very infrequently for that team.

The series was being hailed by longtime locals as the biggest since the Yankees came to town in September of '82.

They meant regular season series, I'm sure. The last 'big' home series with pennant implications was probably September of '92 when they swept Oakland to bring them within 2.5 of Toronto with 5 to play. Yes, that was a long time ago. Last year they were sort of in it the last week, but not really.

At that rate he may be blind by the time he's ready to come back.

Well played, sir.