BBTF's Game Chatter Discussion :: Phillies (59-35) @ Cubs (38-58), Monday, July 18, 2011, 8:05pm

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1. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: July 18, 2011 at 03:42 PM (#3880183)

Cubs should save themselves three hours and have the bat boy take a note of forfeit to the visiting clubhouse.

2. Gern Blanston Posted: July 18, 2011 at 05:53 PM (#3880324)

I'll be there tonight, though given the oppressive heat and humidity and what is possibly the most lopsided pitching matchup one could dream up, I'm not sure why.

3. Brian C Posted: July 18, 2011 at 06:52 PM (#3880369)

I'll be there tonight, though given ... what is possibly the most lopsided pitching matchup one could dream up,

Sheer lack of imagination. Be honest, if I said that this isn't even going to be the most lopsided pitching matchup of the series, you'd have to look it up before being comfortable saying I'm wrong.

4. Gern Blanston Posted: July 18, 2011 at 07:07 PM (#3880386)

Well, I'm comfortable saying I'd be really damn rich if I made 12MM a year, or if I made 11MM, which seems a good analog...

5. Gern Blanston Posted: July 18, 2011 at 07:07 PM (#3880387)

So what ARE the other pitching matchups this series, anyway....

6. Gern Blanston Posted: July 18, 2011 at 07:08 PM (#3880388)

So what I'm saying is, Roy Halladay is the 12MM/year to my salary's Rodrigo Lopez. Cliff Lee and Cole Hamels are merely the 11MM.

7. Brian C Posted: July 18, 2011 at 07:21 PM (#3880401)

Other matchups:

Tuesday: Lee v Garza
Wednesday: Worley v Dempster

So not too bad, really.

8. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: July 18, 2011 at 08:06 PM (#3880454)

We've talked about how bad the pitching has been this year, but little of that banter has involved the departure of Larry Rothschild. Leo Mazzonne couldn't work with some of the chaff the Cubs have thrown on the hill this season. But aside from Marshall and perhaps BPJ, it seems like every Cubs pitcher has underachieved.

Marmol has faltered after an amazing 2010. Zambrano has been largely ineffective. Dempster has put together some really good starts among some really ugly ones. Wells, a guy who was supposed to take a step forward this season, doesn't look like he even belongs in a MLB rotation most of the time. And Kerry Wood, bless his heart, has been really underwhelming.

The Cubs don't boast a ton of pitching talent, but it seems like they're getting the bare minimum from most of their pitchers.

9. Brian C Posted: July 18, 2011 at 08:37 PM (#3880498)

BPJ is an interesting case this year. His strikeout rate has jumped to an almost miraculous degree, although like Marmol he's stopped striking guys out recently (only 3 over his last seven appearances, over 7.2 IP). But his walk rate is still really high, if not comical like last season. He's been mercifully good with inherited runners (stranded 9 of 11).

I'm happy to see this improvement, but I also wonder how much of it is real and sustainable. Aside from his K rate, his peripherals still don't look all that good to me. For instance, he's allowing fewer homers, but just about as many flyballs. His BAbip is still well below average, though amusingly the same as it was last year.

I wonder if he hasn't found his ceiling - being a guy who comes in to pitch comparatively low-leverage innings when the team is losing and doesn't make things drastically worse.

10. you got a STEAGLES? you're gonna need a STEAGLES. Posted: July 18, 2011 at 10:24 PM (#3880613)

just to be a jackass for a second, kyle kendrick has a 3.34 ERA. among the cubs pitchers who have pitched more than 10 innings, there's exactly 1 who has an ERA lower than kendrick.

that's not good.

11. SteveM. Posted: July 19, 2011 at 12:13 AM (#3880750)

I can't watch tonight because I am in the Phillie viewing area but they don't allow Direct TV to carry the Comcast channel they are on. I suspect the Cubs will get slaughtered this series.
I am now going into hiding because based on the Rob Neyer thread, I am unAmerican for not giving a damn about the Women's World Cup.

12. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: July 19, 2011 at 12:24 AM (#3880757)

There's your run, Rodrigo.

13. Meatwads stronger now, ready for the house Posted: July 19, 2011 at 12:30 AM (#3880762)

Lopez has a perfect game through 2

14. Meatwads stronger now, ready for the house Posted: July 19, 2011 at 12:35 AM (#3880774)

Blind squirrel

15. Dan The Mediocre Posted: July 19, 2011 at 12:37 AM (#3880781)

Through 2.5 innings, there have been 52 pitches. This game might be under 2 hours.

16. SouthSideRyan Posted: July 19, 2011 at 12:39 AM (#3880787)

Steagles is going to regret being a jackass when Lopez throws 7 shutout innings and passes Kendrick.

17. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: July 19, 2011 at 12:43 AM (#3880793)

Fukudome just saw more pitches in that at-bat than I think the Cubs saw in either of the first two innings.

18. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: July 19, 2011 at 12:45 AM (#3880799)

Probably going to be the best chance for a crooked number all night.

19. you got a STEAGLES? you're gonna need a STEAGLES. Posted: July 19, 2011 at 12:52 AM (#3880809)

this game is not ideal.

20. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: July 19, 2011 at 12:54 AM (#3880813)

Good enough I suppose.

21. Dan The Mediocre Posted: July 19, 2011 at 12:57 AM (#3880815)

No more perfect game for Lopez.

22. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: July 19, 2011 at 12:57 AM (#3880816)

Cancel the post game show.

23. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: July 19, 2011 at 01:27 AM (#3880865)

Halladay hurt?

24. Dan The Mediocre Posted: July 19, 2011 at 01:27 AM (#3880866)

Halladay has been so good that 3 runs in 4 innings just pushes his ERA to 2.57.

25. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: July 19, 2011 at 01:35 AM (#3880879)

Unwise attempt by Castro there since he probably scores on a hit anyway.

26. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: July 19, 2011 at 01:37 AM (#3880885)

Soriano hasn't homered in a month.

27. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: July 19, 2011 at 01:44 AM (#3880895)

I hope Quade has someone up in the pen.

28. you got a STEAGLES? you're gonna need a STEAGLES. Posted: July 19, 2011 at 02:15 AM (#3880958)

very, very annoying.

29. Meatwads stronger now, ready for the house Posted: July 19, 2011 at 02:23 AM (#3880969)

20 home runs for pena

30. SouthSideRyan Posted: July 19, 2011 at 02:31 AM (#3880986)

Jeff Samardzija now also has an ERA lower than Kyle Kendrick.

31. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: July 19, 2011 at 02:39 AM (#3881004)

Lopez is almost there, too.

32. These Guys Suck Posted: July 19, 2011 at 02:45 AM (#3881017)

And Marshall has to get up. Nice.

33. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: July 19, 2011 at 02:48 AM (#3881021)

This is ridiculous.

34. Walks Clog Up the Bases Posted: July 19, 2011 at 02:50 AM (#3881024)

What's Marmol's fastball usually top out at? I thought it was the mid-90s, but everything tonight was in the low 90's.

35. SouthSideRyan Posted: July 19, 2011 at 03:02 AM (#3881035)

FB Velocity is down ~2 mph from his career averages.

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