4/20 CHC vs StL 1:20pm; TV: CSN Radio: WGN

[ryno4ever]

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w224/ryno4ever/cubsoncards.jpg

Lilly vs Looper (tongue twister matchup!)

The Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals renew their rivalry Friday afternoon, opening a three-game weekend series at Wrigley Field.
Chicago got a huge lift from lefty Rich Hill Thursday night, as he threw eight shutout innings and combined with Ryan Dempster to shut out the Atlanta Braves, 3-0, at Turner Field. Michael Barrett and Aramis Ramirez homered and Mark DeRosa chipped in an RBI double.

The Cardinals have lost four in a row and have allowed six runs in each of the last three games.

Left-hander Ted Lilly will try to win his second consecutive start and earn his first win at Wrigley Field in his third start at home. He is 0-1, but has allowed only four earned runs in 12 innings. The Cubs have scored only three runs in his two starts at Wrigley. Lilly, who is holding opponents to a .164 batting average, is 1-0 lifetime against St. Louis, beating them on June 15, 2005, as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays, shutting them out over seven innings in Toronto's 5-2 win.

The Cubs have taken the season series the last two years against the Cardinals, going 11-8 last season and 10-5 in 2005. They lead the all-time series 1,126-1,067 and are 466-410 all-time at Wrigley Field.

Pitching matchup
CHC: LHP Ted Lilly (1-1, 2.37 ERA)
Lilly has an 8-1 strikeouts-to-walks ratio (24:3) in three starts spanning 19 innings.

STL: RHP Braden Looper (2-1, 2.37 ERA)
After relieving exclusively his first nine Major League seasons, Looper has allowed only five runs and 15 hits in 19 innings in his first three career starts.

Player to watch
Barrett, whose homer provided the game-winning run in Thursday night's victory in Atlanta, is hitting .636 (7-for-11) with two doubles and an RBI lifetime against Looper

Going into today's game, the Cubs and Cards are both in the basement, both 3 games out. This is a very very very crucial series, and I cant' wait until Marquis gets to pitch against Old Tony and gang.... Just wondering if this is when Jason will get his WS ring????

Cards are on a losing skid... Cubs looking to win back to back. Pujols in a slump...and Cubs starting to show signs of light with the bat. I will be at work for the game.... but can't wait to get back tomorrow night and talk about the game and hopefully a W with you guys!

[CubsFan23]

I will have the XM fired up at work to listen to the game. Winning this series could very well be the spark that ignites the fire under this team. KILL THE CARDS!

[downsouthcubbie]

The Riot is leading off!!! Sweet!!

And he singles in his first at bat!!

[downsouthcubbie]

Lee singles

[downsouthcubbie]

Aramis singles and Theriot scores!!! 1-0 Cubs

[downsouthcubbie]

End of 1st inning Cubs 1-0.

[CubsFan23]

End of Five and still 1-0 Cubs!

[CubsFan23]

Lilly cruising stikes out Pujols to end the top of the sixth. 6 IP 1 BB 4 K 3 H.

[ChinMusic22]

Lilly is looking sharp (well sounding, I have MLB Audio on). Good stuff...

[downsouthcubbie]

I hope he keeps this up!!

[CubsFan23]

He just allowed a 2 run homer to Preston Wilson!

[CubsFan23]

Time for JJ to be clutch.

[CubsFan23]

Blanco up no outs 2 on down by 1 bottom 7.

[ChinMusic22]

He hit into a ****ing triple play??? Are you kidding??? Get out there Lou!

[CubsFan23]

Izturis' bat is killing us!

[ChinMusic22]

Can the Cubs spell "clutch hitting"?

[CubsFan23]

2 on no outs and we can't score a freaking run, you have to be kidding me!!!

[ChinMusic22]

Friggin' sad... It's only a matter of time before Lou has a complete meltdown on this team...

[downsouthcubbie]

I'm about to freakin blow!!!!!!! Where are our bats??? We get two on with no outs in a 1 run game and can't do @%$^!! Given our play this year in close games I have very little faith. COME ON CUBBIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bockstock]

Izturis' bat is killing us!

Izturis is terrible. Hendry's scouts screwed up on that one last year.

Gold Glover-caliber, two years ago maybe. He hasn't even given the cubs the benefit of his usual hot start (.300 April/May) before falling off the face of the Earth for the rest of the season offensively.

[CubsFan23]

This is unacceptable in any game, but is down right blasphemous when we are playing the Cards.

[ChinMusic22]

We're making Braden Looper look like Johan ****ing Santana... Have we forgot that Braden Looper is a former closer who lsot the closers job with 3 different teams, and the Cards weren't about to give him the ball last year either...

This is ridiculous...

[ChinMusic22]

I HATE DAVID ECKSTEIN

[CubsFan23]

Time for the top of the order to come alive!

[ChinMusic22]

At least we got out of the jam in the 8th. Top of the order coming up, let's win this game!

[Bockstock]

DLee is due

[Bockstock]

BTW if anyone noticed the Cards record on the road and the Cubs record at home are complete opposites

[CubsFan23]

We need to come back and win this game so as not to start my weekend off on a bad note!

[Sheffield_&_Waveland]

Not a good way to start the ninth!!!

[Bockstock]

good defense there Cliff

pathetic, under 500 at home again and in last place, AND we can't beat the Cards

[bringbacktuffy]

first off, whats with this lineup? Barrett is not playing but hitting like 700 lifetime vs Looper. Where's Pie? Why is Floyd hitting second? Why isnt Murton at one of the corners?

[ARamfan]

We need to come back and win this game so as not to start my weekend off on a bad note!

I agree. I don't want mine starting off on a bad note either! :mad:

[CubsFan23]

15 LOB so far for the Cubs!

[Sheffield_&_Waveland]

Lucked out there!!! Now we need to see a come from behind win here that would be nice way to start the weekend :)

[CubsFan23]

first off, whats with this lineup? Barrett is not playing but hitting like 700 lifetime vs Looper. Where's Pie? Why is Floyd hitting second? Why isnt Murton at one of the corners?

Barrett is not playing because it is a day game after a night game and the team did not get in til after mudnight last night. As for the other two your guess is as good as mine!

[ARamfan]

We need Rammy to hit one of his HRs NOW! I don't care if it goes into extra innings, I just don't want to lose this game.

[downsouthcubbie]

Bottom of the ninth... We need this badly...

SCORE SOME FREAKIN RUNS!!!!!

[ChinMusic22]

Get rid of Jones... 3-1, be patient... Don't swing at ball 4... come on guys...

[CubsFan23]

I am on the edge of my seat! Please oh Please pull this one out!

[ChinMusic22]

Why the hell is Cedeno out??? It was ball 4!!!!

[ChinMusic22]

Lou needs to get booted out of this game... Get the players fired up...

[Bockstock]

Why the hell is Cedeno out??? It was ball 4!!!!

That is pure crap

[ChinMusic22]

NEVER SWING AT THE FIRST PITCH... DAMMIT!!!!

[CubsFan23]

Why the hell is Cedeno out??? It was ball 4!!!!


I was wondering the same thing?

[Bockstock]

Sounds like Cedeno was between 2nd and 3rd. Is that the case??

cubs find another way to lose a game.. unbelievable

[roenick99]

Somebody please tell me why the **** matt murton is in the goddamn mother ****ing game and why the **** don't they pinch hit with Barrett and why the **** is ****ing matt ****ing murton swinging at the first ****ing pitch. this ****ing team sucks!!!!!!!

[CubsFan23]

This is BS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bringbacktuffy]

Somebody please tell me why the **** matt murton is in the goddamn mother ****ing game and why the **** don't they pinch hit with Barrett and why the **** is ****ing matt ****ing murton swinging at the first ****ing pitch. this ****ing team sucks!!!!!!!

You read my mind

[bringbacktuffy]

WTF happened to Cedano at 2nd?

[ChinMusic22]

Complete crap... This team might have big names, but lacks the little things that winning teams have... Lou needs to get these guys in line...

[ARamfan]

Somebody please tell me why the **** matt murton is in the goddamn mother ****ing game and why the **** don't they pinch hit with Barrett and why the **** is ****ing matt ****ing murton swinging at the first ****ing pitch. this ****ing team sucks!!!!!!!

Very good questions.

[Bockstock]

This is BS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

if the runner advances past second on a walk and he is tagged he is out

The free pass only entails 2nd base, if he advances past second (off the bag) towards 3rd the ball is live. It happened to me in little league once, ironically.

basicly if you break it down Eckstien/Molina = smart, Cedeno = dumb

[roenick99]

Unfortunately, for Lilly it does not matter how well he pitches because they cannot score runs for him. It is ridiculous. He is just like Kerry Wood was a couple years ago. Half of his loses were 1 or two run losses with him only giving up a couple of runs. i'm sick of this ****.

[CubsFan23]

Complete crap... This team might have big names, but lacks the little things that winning teams have... Lou needs to get these guys in line...


Yeah for a firing squad!

(Sorry just ranting)

[bringbacktuffy]

so cedano overran the bag after the walk? wtf is he doing!?

[CubsFan23]

if the runner advances past second on a walk and he is tagged he is out

The free pass only entails 2nd base, if he advances past second (off the bag) towards 3rd the ball is live. It happened to me in little league once, ironically.

basicly if you break it down Eckstien/Molina = smart, Cedeno = dumb

I know that. I was not BSing that play (well I kinda was), I was BSing the way the team lost!

[roenick99]

Very good questions.

i am sorry for profanity, but i am SO frustrated right now. i have to put up with all the **** from all the damn cards fans that i work with now because the cubs stink AGAIN! i have to close my door to my office because i don't hear from them all day until these moments. it's pathetic. these are the times i HATE living in st louis.

[bringbacktuffy]

dont worry, there are plenty of card fans in chicago. not as many as st louis obviously but when you live with one, work with another, friends with yet another and hang out with all 3 it gets a little tough

[Bockstock]

so cedano overran the bag after the walk? wtf is he doing!?

This is why the Cardinals can have guys like Eckstein, Taguchi, and Molina in their lineup and compete in every game. TLR knows the rules of the game and they have players who compensate lack of physical ability/power through smart baseball and good fundamentals

[ARamfan]

i am sorry for profanity, but i am SO frustrated right now. i have to put up with all the **** from all the damn cards fans that i work with now because the cubs stink AGAIN! i have to close my door to my office because i don't hear from them all day until these moments. it's pathetic. these are the times i HATE living in st louis.

No need to apologize, all the ****ing profanity seems appropriate right now. :(

[ChinMusic22]

Sloppy ****ing baseball... Wake the **** up Cedeno... This whole teams needs to take bating practice as well... Learn the strike zone and what to and not to swing at...

[Sheffield_&_Waveland]

This is why the Cardinals can have guys like Eckstein, Taguchi, and Molina in their lineup and compete in every game. TLR knows the rules of the game and they have players who compensate lack of physical ability/power through smart baseball and good fundamentals

Very true. But instead we are paying more money for yet another losing season. This team has very big problems on their hands and they really need to figure them out real quick!!

[ARamfan]

This team has very big problems on their hands and they really need to figure them out real quick!!

You can say that again! All that money spent, all the expectations, the addition of Sweet Lou and still the same crap! :mad:

[ChinMusic22]

I wish Pinella would pul a Jim Leyland, and tell the media this team stinks and they play with no heart...

[ChinMusic22]

Ronnie Cedeno should not be allowed to talk to the media...

[Sheffield_&_Waveland]

This team is making way to many mistakes all the way around. I don't know what Lou was thinking when he made the line-up today but I think it was a big error on his behalf. Zambrano is suppose to be the ace and he is struggling. Spend 136 Million on a 40-40-40 guy that has been picked off 4 times and has yet to hit a home run. 16 games into the season and you don't have a set line up yet. Consistently lose one run games!! Consistently leave men in scoring position. There's a ton of problems with this team does anyone think this is all fixable? And I am sure I may have missed a few

[Bockstock]

You can say that again! All that money spent, all the expectations, the addition of Sweet Lou and still the same crap! :mad:

This team is still very much built in JH's image, no matter what Lou does about it on the field

Jones, Izturis, Soriano, alot of free-swinging, poor disciplined, low OBP hitters.

[roenick99]

does anyone else notice that we have more than a few players that are hitting or pitching really well, yet they are cancelled out by straight up crappy performances or one or two bone headed mistakes by a select few? it doesn't make any sense what-so-ever. we have most of our pitchers pitching really well. there are even three guys that have yet to give up a run. yet we are 6-10. the first four hitters today were all batting over .300 to start the game. yet we only score one run. you got the guy with the second most rbi's on the team (barrett) sitting on the bench all day and you bring in a guy that never gets to play in to pinch hit who pops it up on the very first pitch after izzy has been wild enough to warrant not swinging at anything. i have to question the manager on this one. somebody needs to tell him that barrett killed the cardinals last year. he needs to be starting all of these games. this team is once again a disappointing mess and i don't see the future being much brighter at this point...

[ARamfan]

[QUOTE=roenick99;16945]does anyone else notice that we have more than a few players that are hitting or pitching really well, yet they are cancelled out by straight up crappy performances or one or two bone headed mistakes by a select few? it doesn't make any sense what-so-ever.

I've noticed it and you're right, that's exactly what happens. I saw it happening a lot last year too. I get so frustrated for players like DLee and ARam and others who are doing their job, getting the Cubs on the board, etc. and then the dumb mistake will happen. I've seen Rammy just shake his head in bewilderment after these games. :(

[ryno4ever]

Hey guys... just got home from work.... what a heartbreaking day. So many wasted chances... so many weird things happening in the game... and a few that gave the Cubs a break that they didn't cash in on.

I was listening to the press conference after the game, and Lou sounded totally defeated, as if he had not an ounce of life in him. At one point, he asks, "What do you want me to say?" I could only think that we are really in trouble when our manager sounds defeated in only the second week of the season.

[CUBScrazy22]

I agree with everyone. We have to have an idea of a pretty much set line-up by now and Barrett definitely should be playing these games. Doesn't a century of loyal fans mean anything to these guys to try and win? I don't care what Lou does, he just has to do something to fire up the players and make them start hitting and when they do finally get on base, stay on and cross home plate safe.

[ARamfan]

Hey guys... just got home from work.... what a heartbreaking day. So many wasted chances... so many weird things happening in the game... and a few that gave the Cubs a break that they didn't cash in on.

I was listening to the press conference after the game, and Lou sounded totally defeated, as if he had not an ounce of life in him. At one point, he asks, "What do you want me to say?" I could only think that we are really in trouble when our manager sounds defeated in only the second week of the season.

Hi Heather,

I'm just back from having a few Friday night cocktails! :p But I do remember what happened in the game today. It WAS weird and it's lucky you were at work and didn't watch. :eek: As far as Lou goes, I'm concerned that he's feeling defeated SO soon. I hate to bring up DB again, but he weathered a lot of storms before sounding defeated.

[ryno4ever]

On Lou's behalf, he is trying to make a difference instead of trying to make excuses. He brought in Bobby Dernier today to work with baserunning, and that is why I think we saw almost an over-effort on the basepads today. He's trying to find ways of keeping both Theriot and DeRosa in the lineup and trying to find the combination of the lineup that will "click". It has to be really hard to manage when you had "Freaky Friday" stuff happening on the field. When I thought Blanco had just hit into a triple play, I thought I was going to blow a gasket! The Ronny Cedeno play...I was listening to it on the radio, so I had to use Pat and Ron's description of what was going on, and they were confused at first as to why Ronny was out. You heard the boos first, and then Pat came on and said that indeed he was tagged out because he overslid the bag and was tagged. Had he either slid in feet first or simply ran to the bag, he would have been safe, the tying run in scoring position and the game may have ended differently.

[ryno4ever]

A picture from today's game! pretty much says it all!

http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w224/ryno4ever/042007loufrustrated.jpg