This weekend’s cross-town series was already going to come with a great deal of hype: it’s Cubs/Sox, it’s the first interleague series of the year, that NATO business is happening, the Cubs’ Wrigley Funding fight is reaching a fevered pitch, and the Cubs are scuffling and looking for a rebound.
And then the Kerry Wood news came out.
If you didn’t already have a million reasons to watch this series, now you’ve got at least one. Kerry Wood is expected make an appearance in this series – at some point – and then retire. So watch. And discuss. And enjoy. Go Cubs.
Game Info
White Sox (18-21) at Chicago Cubs (15-23), 1:20pm CT on WGN.
Game Thread and Series Preview
The Game Thread lives here. You should participate in the madness. And, of course, for those who aren’t into message board-style game threads, please feel free to use the comments on this post for your in-game commentary/outbursts.
The Series Preview for this series lives here.
Starting Pitchers
Philip Humber (1-2, 5.77 ERA, 1 Perfect Game)
versus
Jeff Samardzija (4-1, 2.89 ERA, 9.3 K/9)
Chicago White Sox Lineup
1. Alejandro De Aza, CF
2. Gordon Beckham, 2B
3. Adam Dunn, LF
4. Paul Konerko, 1B
5. Alex Rios, RF
6. A.J. UglyButt, C
7. Alexei Ramirez, SS
8. Eduardo Escobar, 3B
9. Philip Humber, P
Chicago Cubs Lineup
1. David DeJesus, RF
2. Tony Campana, CF
3. Starlin Castro, SS
4. Bryan LaHair, 1B
5. Alfonso Soriano, LF
6. Ian Stewart, 3B
7. Welington Castillo,C
8. Darwin Barney, 2B
9. Jeff Samardzija, P
–
Who would you rather have in LF, defensively, our LF or theirs?
Ours?
OURS for sure.
they both suck but, Adam can still run. sori looks like done.
Sori draggin that bum leg is still quicker than Dunn in the OF
That’s a joke right? Soriano might have some kind of injury that’s slowing him down, but he’s been doing a hell of a job in left. I’ve seen him run more/harder this year than any other time in his career.
I don’t know. The leg looked like it was realy bothering him on Hunter Pence’s double last night.
Can I PLEASE get a Cardenas sighting in the lineup this series. Poor kid can’t get on the field. Quade, I mean Sveum, needs to either give him some opportunies or let him play every day in Iowa.
I concur
He could probably get some ab’s if he would stop swinging at the first pitch every time up.
I was thinking the same thing. Wasn’t one of his big strengths supposed to be patience at the plate and seeing lots of pitches? I haven’t seen it so far.
No, but the sample size is appallingly small. Put me in the “let’s see if Cardenas’ Bat + Glove >> Barney’s Bat + Glove” camp…..
Actually, what I noticed a couple times that he likes to not swing at the first pitch, but then swings at everything before the pitcher throws the damn ball.
Not a fan of Piersinski, are you? I understand, because I hate him. He’s a whiny, arrogant jerk who deserved to get his ass kicked by Barnett. Go Cubs!
Barnett who? lol, kidding. think it’s Barrett.
Whoops, that’s what happens when you type in something while still waking up! It is Barrett, I’m just a dumba– when I am tired.
I really don’t want to see Johnson on the field for a while. He isn’t a asset anymore. Hopefully, he can prove me wrong and have an amazing remainder of the year. I am just pissed with his poor excuse of an at bat at the end of the game. Barney got a freaking hit off of Papelbon!!!! How in God’s name does Johnson not get a hit off some pretty hitable pitches?!?!!?
Didn’t Reed hit a PH HR and RBI single in his previous 2 ABs? His mistake was laying off the 1st pitch last night, right down the middle.
But his batting average isn’t anywhere close to where it was last year at the same time. And I was so pissed that he did not swing at that first pitch. He knows better.
Volstad optioned to AAA
Wow, look at all the empty seats for a crosstown game!
we may not win this game but at least we are in good company…
Throwing ungodly amounts of expletives at Gordon Beckham and that umpire.
This isn’t football, bros.
Can Castro push the next baserunner off the bag and tag him. He should certainly try.
Agreed. Mainly the umpire, I don’t think that was Beckham’s intention. The fall just happened to work out in his favor.
Watch the replay and see how, near the end of the collision, Beckham’s right hand flails at DeJesus’s left hand as DJ tries to get back to the base. Can’t tell me that’s not intentional. I don’t think the collision was intended, but I do think Beckham took advantage and allowed it to be much more forceful than it needed to be.
UglyButt. Ha!
Jeff Samardzja with the RBI!!! Then DeJesus and Campana pop out on the first pitch….
Kerry! Kerry! Kerry! Kerry! Kerry! Kerry! Kerry! Kerry! Kerry! Kerry! Kerry! Kerry! Kerry! Kerry!
Lets get the win now for Kerry.
Again, Reed Johnson fails… Sigh…
I’m gonna do some freaking out on the next person that gripes that Reed’s not seeing enough playing time.
[Insert bench player here] would have driven Barney in.
I think it’s unlikely any of them would have, frankly.
Agreed, I was just predicting the shifting conversation after Reed blows it.
Was hoping Joe Mather would get an AB somewhere in that inning.
Probably would have done better than Johnson did.
wow. I only caught one at bat in the whole game, and it was Beckham’s homer. Why do I bother?