And in the end, the love you take, is equal to the gate receipts you make.
The 2012 season concludes – for the Cubs and Astros, anyway – today, and the process of building for 2013 begins at around 4:30pm. The snake eats its tail, the stream evaporates into the clouds and the rain falls into the stream, and so on, and so on.
One of these years, today is going to mark the height of anticipation for us. This year, instead, it marks the nadir of, well, anticipation.
Most of the regulars get the day off today, so at least there’s something different to see. I’d say the Astros are doing the same, but, frankly, I haven’t got the foggiest about their “regulars” these days.
At least there are some other exciting things going on in baseball today, including the races in the AL West and AL East going down to the wire (go O’s, go A’s), and Miguel Cabrera’s pursuit of the first Triple Crown in 45 years.
Game Info
Houston Astros (55-106) at Chicago Cubs (60-101), 1:20 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
Edgar Gonzalez (3-1, 4.15 ERA, 3.28 FIP)
versus
Travis Wood (6-13, 4.39 ERA, 4.87 FIP)
Houston Astros Lineup
1. Tyler Greene, 2B
2. Jed Lowrie, SS
3. Matt Dominguez, 3B
4. Justin Maxwell, C
5. Carlos Corporan, C
6. Brandon Barnes, CF
7. Brandon Laird, 1B
8. Jimmy Paredes, RF
9. Edgar Gonzalez, P
Chicago Cubs Lineup
1. Tony Campana, LF
2. Adrian Cardenas, 2B
3. Starlin Castro, SS
4. Bryan LaHair, 1B
5. Dave Sappelt, RF
6. Josh Vitters, 3B
7. Brett Jackson, CF
8. Anthony Recker, C
9. Travis Wood, P