The Cubs can still nail down a series win tonight by taking down the Red Sox, who are offering up Franklin Morales in place of the injured Josh Beckett. Morales is making his first start in three years, so he’s certain to struggle against the Cubs, right?
The game is a national one on ESPN, so at least you’ll be able to cap off your Father’s Day with baseball.
Game Info
Boston Red Sox (32-33) at Chicago Cubs (22-43), 7:00pm CT on ESPN.
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
Franklin Morales (0-1, 3.04 ERA, 1.225 WHIP)
versus
Paul Maholm (4-5, 4.91 ERA, 1.333 WHIP)
Boston Red Sox Lineup
1. Scott Podsednik, LF
2. Dustin Pedroia, 2B
3. Kevin Youkilis, 3B
4. David Ortiz, 1B
5. Mike Aviles, SS
6. Darnell McDonald, RF
7. Kelly Shoppach, C
8. Ryan Kalish, CF
9. Franklin Morales, P
Chicago Cubs Lineup
1. Reed Johnson, RF
2. Darwin Barney, 2B
3. Starlin Castro,SS
4. Alfonso Soriano, LF
5. Jeff Baker, 1B
6. Joe Mather, CF
7. Welington Castillo, C
8. Luis Valbuena, 3B
9. Paul Maholm, P
Hopefully Castro busts loose
Lets go Soriano!
Horrible lineup!
Still just vaguely disappointed by Maholm. Didn’t expect a lot more from him, but a little more than he’s given.
Calling it now. Breaking the 1 run streak.
Koyie Hill opted for free agency. Best of luck to him. One of the nicest and most grateful guys to be in the big leagues.
No Ivan Rodriguez for sure, but I’d be glad to see him hook on somewhere (preferably Cardinals, Brewers, Red Sox or White Sox lol…sorry couldn’t help it.)
Yeah, Hill is one of those guys who makes it uncomfortable every time you hear he’s joined your team. On the one hand, good for him for being in the majors at all. On the other, @#%#@$ Cubs, stop picking up players like him.
Yay no Lahair. Sounds like a good idea…leaving out your best hitter two days in a row (frowny face)
It does seem like teams go out of their way to throw lefties against the Cubs.
He can’t hit lefties. At all. Not even a little.
Isn’t that was said about Colvin? He is sporting a .289/,320/.562/.882 slash line.
In 120 plate appearances, most of which have come at the most hitter-friendly park in recent baseball history. Not exactly enough to change how anyone views a player.
Colvin’s line is largely because he’s been used very sparingly, largely against pitchers of the sort that he hits well. Amusingly, his line against lefties is gaudy: 0.382/0.371/0.706. However, it also is in only 35 PAs. LaHair’s dreadful 0.171/0.340/0.293 line in “clutch” situations is slightly more meaningful (albeit still meaningless).
When trying to retain value on a AAAA player who can’t hit lefties, that you need to sell high on….its best to not trot him out against a lefty.
I’ll buy that.
I was on the fence about watching tonight. Tonight’s lineup pushed me over.
But in which direction?
That’s what I was wondering! (=
Sorry..Reed, Baker, and Mather all in 1 day..my tv won’t be safe if I turn on the game.
I am hopeful that Valbuena makes up for the suckfest that is Jeff Baker. Can’t wait til he’s long gone.
How Baker is still on the team goes “beyond” ridiculous.
The Cubs have been throwing an all righty lineup all year. They are 3-14 against lefties. Isn’t it about time to try something different? And again Lahair rarely gets to go against lefties and if he does it’s once a week. Even the best hitters won’t hit lefties if they never see them. Not wasting my time watching this massacre.
He had lots of chances to hit lefties in the minors. He failed pretty consistently.
If they’re 3-14 against lefties that means they’re 19-29 against righties. You can look up all the numbers you want, they all just mean the same thing- they suck, right handed or left handed. Rocket science.
Yep!(Head bouncing off the table)
Rocket science is more exciting and less depressing than the cubs losing.
That was last year. He is still one of your best hitters this year and could he do worse than Baker?
It wasn’t just last year. It was every year of his minor league career.
Yes, he could be worse than Baker. He’d probably be worse than Baker. And that’s not saying anything good about Baker.
tut tut, we all know that getting to the Majors means that you have a clean slate: thus, although a guy did (or did not) do something for 8 years in the minors, we still do has not “been given a chance” to show that he can hit lefties….
Kyle, Didn’t he change his stroke and approach about two years ago? What’s been his record since then? Or isn’t he allowed to get credit since the change? If the change didn’t affect his battinge against lefties I’d like to know.
You gotta sit him against good lefties, but Franklin Morales? What’s the harm in giving him some occasional ABs against mediocre lefties?
Interesting read
http://www.examiner.com/article/future-of-cubs-partnership-with-asu-at-new-spring-training-facility-doubt
Don’t you think his trade value would drop then on a contending team. Come playoff time in late situations, they will always do righty-righty/lefty-lefty matchups, basically guaranteeing an out
His trade value has dropped. But the cubs are consistent – they don’t use him, The last month of last year and the early month in the baseball season he hit like gangbusters. During that time he must have faced some lefties and he still hit well, or at least it didn’t affect his average.
He’s hitting .107 against lefties this year.
Thanks Kyle. I finally found that. The interesting thing is he has more strikeouts vs right handers than left handers. But you’ve provided something besides the constant ‘he doesn’t hit lefties.’ I now see where you guys are cming from, but as bad as this team is I don’t think it would hurt for him to face an occasional lefty. It sure would help his trade value. I don’t think it could be any worse than it is now.
Cheryl, with him having a terrible record against LHP for nearly a decade, his value would probably plummet if he were playing every day. You asked about his *adjustment* right? Well, in 2012 he has 33 PA against LHP, with 3 hits, 16 SO and a .457 OPS. Baker’s OPS against LHP? .692.
While neither sound at all appetizing, Baker is the better option.
OK. I have to agree, i now see what you’re basis is.
I keep hearing the Dodgers are the front runners for Demp. Any thoughts on what a realistic package would be?
Not sure how their system is. I’d hope for Toronto, Atlanta or Detroit they seem to have pretty good systems. Even Boston since Theo knows the players well but prospects are prospects, you never know
I don’t know about their farm system but I’m not expecting anything higher than a top 15 guy and maybe a 20-30 guy.
glad to hear koyie hill gone for good this time. more pieces loaded into the jim hendry dumpster box.
Could be worse…could be the Phillies where expectations were sky high…much further to fall….they are ready to do fire sale and so Cubs better jump ahead of them or else no takers left
Castro needs the day off.
he needs a better role model than Soriano is and Ramirez was….dont see anyone on team with those creds though
Die hard, you’re so cute…
This line up has won, what? 3 games? Why don’t Sveum try to change it up a little. It obviously isn’t working. And he is killing my fantasy team by sitting LaHair so much.
Please don’t suggest LeHair should play against lefties, someone on this site will shoot you down.
At this point, no one is hitting lefties well, so really, it won’t hurt if he doesn’t hit them well. At least he will get the experience.
Either way, this line up sucks. Nice to see Maholm give up two runs in the first.
Soriano couldn’t get Castro home because Morales is racist
lmao
The Braves Brandon Beachy got sent to the DL! More of a market for Dempster and Garza! They are going to be more in need! Which means better prospects and more leverage in a trade! I feel bad for Beachy being hurt but they have a need and we are here t serve for a hefty prospect price!
Barney will be stickin around awhile i think
Because his OPS is average for a second baseman and he’ll be hitting his peak 2 years before we’re competitive?
No, because if he can KEEP his OPS around league average for a second baseman, his glove makes him above average there (until he starts to get expensive).
I’m sure he’ll be asking for a Pujols-like contract with his performance.
Because he has a good glove, young, and hustles like nobody’s business
Well, he has a good glove; hes not all that young, and if he were spoting a .625 OPS instead of a .725, it wouldnt matter how much he *hustles*.
Hes only 26, I consider that young. I dont understand how people think he either cant get better or just not capable
Nice to see another member on the Darwin Barney bandwagon. Welcome aboard !!!
27 is peak, so by the time Cubs are competitive he won’t be young. If he were a stud/leader/the kind of guy you build your team around, I see him sticking around past his prime; but if his peak is league-average he’s not really a part of any plan, hustle or not.
the peak years are 27-32
wow 28 your washed up??????
My not washed up at 28, just on the wrong side of peak. Clearly different, but going downhill from average just as the Cubs become competitive is not a fit.
People make that assumption based on the fact that most players hit their prime at age 27, the fact that he has a career. 674 OPS in close to 1000 PA’s, and the fact that there really isnt any room for him to improve all that much, since its highly unlikely he will walk more or improve his slg much more than he already has.
Im perfectly fine with Barney starting at 2B for the next couple years IF he can maintain this increase in power. If not, he just doesnt provide enough offense.
I hope Hill gets an opportunity to work with the Cubs in the future as a coach. He calls a great game.
The team stinks, the field looks bad. What’s next lawn mower racing around the infield? I’m all about rebuilding, but this is sad. Keep doing the same thing and expect different results, keep buying those tickets Cubs faithful. Hey, next home stand let’s set another attendance record to show the Rickett’s how stupid we are.
Shawn Camp is overused.
Dale waited one batter too many to make the pitching change..ugh!!
Yup.
Every time I watch a game and Russell pitches, He SUCKS big time!!!!!! why???
Maybe you make him nervous.
So uh when is Baker gonna be traded or released?
Soon I hope, he does nothing, big waste out there
Hopefully really soon.
At least Castro is 3 for 3 tonight.