The Cubs will try to actually win a game on the West Coast, and avoid 100 losses in the process. It’ll take four wins in the last six games – three of those are against the Astros at Wrigley, so the Cubs might need to win just one in this series.
By way of reminder, the Series Preview hooks you up with what you need to know about every series this year – streaks, broadcast information, pitchers, expected lineups, etc. That way, if you want to check only one place to get a sense about an upcoming series, or to plan ahead, you’ve got it. Oh, and there will be pictures of beautiful women, too.
We’re Going Streaking
The Cubs were swept by the Rockies in Colorado, and have lost 10 of 12. It’s a rough end to a rough season.
Until recently, the Diamondbacks still had slight hopes in the Wild Card race, but they’ve lost three of four, have slipped to .500, and are effectively eliminated from postseason contention.
Game Times and Broadcasts
- Friday, September 28 at 8:40 CT on CSN.
- Saturday, September 29 at 7:10 CT on WGN.
- Sunday, September 30 at 3:10 CT on WGN.
Expected Starters and Lineups
These lineups are likely to be pretty close to what actually gets fielded, but you’ll want to check each day’s Pre-Gamin’ post for the actual lineup.
Cubs
Starters: Travis Wood (6-12, 4.23), Justin Germano (2-9, 6.19), Chris Rusin (1-3, 7.30)
Lineup:
- David DeJesus, CF
- Darwin Barney, 2B
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B
- Alfonso Soriano, LF
- Starlin Castro, SS
- Luis Valbuena, 3B
- Steve Clevenger/Welington Castillo, C
- Dave Sappelt, RF
- Pitcher
Diamondbacks
Starters: Ian Kennedy (14-11, 4.14), Trevor Cahill (12-12, 3.86), Josh Collmenter (5-3, 3.80)
Lineups:
- Adam Eaton, CF
- Aaron Hill, 2B
- Justin Upton, RF
- Jason Kubel, LF
- Paul Goldschmidt, 1B
- Miguel Montero, C
- Ryan Wheeler, 3B
- John McDonald, SS
- Pitcher
Hot or Not and Whom to Watch
Anthony Rizzo has upped his season totals to 15 homers and 47 RBI, together with a .290/.347/.470 line. Not bad for 82 games and turning 23 in August.
Chris Rusin might be wearing down. He’s got an 8.69 ERA in September.
Travis Wood has gone in the other direction, with a 2.40 ERA this month.
Speaking of good in September, Trevor Cahill is at 2.84 this month. Seems a fair time to reiterate: beware the September numbers.
Jason Kubel still has good numbers overall for the D-Backs, but his line since August 1 is just .172/.240/.384.
Series She-View
The Series She-View is one beautiful woman representing the Cubs taking on another (usually) beautiful woman representing the opponent. The Cubs’ representative will change as the team’s needs change – in other words, if the Cubs are winning, the rep will stay the same. But if the Cubs’ performance calls for a change, someone new will step in. The opponent’s representative will change from series to series, at my whim. But at least she’ll probably be wearing the opponent’s colors or have some connection to the team or something like that. It is immature, and the connection to baseball is tenuous at best. These things, I know.
With just two series left, and a sweep by the Rockies in the rearview mirror, it’s time for another change. From the random vault, how about Maria Menounos? Not sure where I saw her the other day, but it struck me that she is lovely.
And since we’re in the TV host category, how about an Arizona native (former) TV host? Jules Asner. We’re going for obscurity today, apparently.
versus
A sick and twisted part of me hopes that we get swept so we can go 0-fer against NL West.
Hey, it’s an accomplishment.
yes, building toward an historic season.
Did anyone else read about that lady in Baltimore who tweeted the Ravens player about calling his brother about an amazing play 36 hours after his brother died?
Was she like, taunting him?
Just looked it up. Her actions are completely despicable. We all love our respective teams, but to go after someones deceased relative is so far past the line that it can no longer be seen. We only get one shot at this life and to make the decision to attack someone in this manner is inexcusable. When we finally go to our resting place, the only thing we leave behind are the thoughts and memories left with those we have come in contact with, whether it be a loved one or someone we happened to chat with standing in line at a coffee shop.
{end of soap box}
So she was taunting him? Disgusting. He seems like a great guy, but even if he’s the worst guy on the planet, you don’t taunt him about his dead brother the day it happens. Unsettling world we live in.
Yeah it was pretty bad. She sent two tweets that were HORRIBLE. Just read an article where she apologized for what she said.
She is just plum sick. There is just a line that you don’t cross. Also, I don’t know why this site would post this headline,”Fan apologizes for tweeting joke about NFL player Torrey Smith’s slain brother.” Last time I check, slained meant murder. Unless someone intentionally ran his motorcycle off the road, then he was slained.
“This” site did not use the term slain. Don’t know if you meant to include a link there or not.
I did mean to include the link, sorry.
http://thegrio.com/2012/09/27/fan-apologizes-for-tweeting-joke-about-nfl-players-slain-brother/
“Unless someone intentionally ran his motorcycle off the road, then he was slained.”
I also meant to say he wasn’t slained
I figured you did. Just didn’t wanted to clarify.
the exact tweet from @KatieBrady12 (Katie Moody) (not our Katie) was
Her account is now reported to be set to private.
She also tweeted
She works at John Hopkins. Presumably not as a physician.
She relased printed statement Wed.:
“I profoundly regret my thoughtless, tasteless, and completely inappropriate comment, and I deeply lament the pain that it has caused. I would like to apologize to Torrey Smith, his family, friends, and everyone who was distressed by what I said. I should have been offering sympathy and compassion for such a terrible and heart-breaking loss. I set high standards for myself as a person and as a fan, and I fell short of these standards. This was a horrible lapse in judgment that I will always regret. I am truly sorry.”
Wow. A decent person does not have a lapse in judgment like that.
On a side not: Torrey Smith had another good game last night.
Who is that person? Just some random fan?
Yes, just a random fan. She works at John Hopkins Hospital and is a Patriots fan.
Obviously her statements were insane and horrible, but I don’t really understand it becoming a big story.
(Says the guy who is also just a random fan.)
The Torrey Smith story was really big anyway and she got responses back via twitter from some of his teammates. That got the thing rolling and as soon as the national news gets something that is even a bit controversial it goes viral.
Put that with her statement that came out on Wed (I think his brother’s funeral was also on Wed) and Torrey played again last night. It was a natural powder keg.
Ya, just a random fan…who now is getting the “Bartman Treatment” by Ravens fans.
Those comments were disgusting.
I would like to thank Cubbie Blues for saying “our Katie”. It made me feel all warm and tingly. Might’ve also been the 3 martini lunch but cheers anyway.
I got all warm and tingly when Katie said warm and tingly. Must’ve been the 12 Budweisers.
Mighty Bear!!! How are you? Drunk, apparently.
No problem, and Welcome Back Loser.
I don’t know if I like you being back – you seem to attract the “Better” crowd
Wait! Me?
Exactly what tv show is she hosting in that Pic?
Shoulda gone with Ed Asner, if only for the lulz.
If that is obscure, I don’t ever want to be seen in public again …
I know it’s immature too but I love the Series She View. Brett, I recommend an off season equivalent like Winter meetings She Rep, etc.
I second the motion.
[...] The Series Preview for this series lives here. [...]
If the Cubs get swept by the NL West we deserve Ernest Borgnine in a wig and bikini representing us in the next She View. Oops….too soon?
This is the closest I could find
Sweet, sweet, Ernest. How this man in drag sums up my feelings about the season. Thanks, Ogyu!
[...] The Series Preview for this series lives here. [...]