Chicago Cubs vs. Pittsburgh, 9 April 2008
Chicago @ Pittsburgh
It's Ryan Dempster and Zach Duke at PNC, 7:05. Dempster was terrific in his first start this year, but he's been a reliever for the last several years, and not a very good one. This looks like an opportunity for the PIrates to continue their high-scoring ways. The best-case scenario with Dempster is that he becomes the next Braden Looper. Looper was a low-wattage closer for the Marlins and Mets before the Cardinals moved him to the rotation last year. He posted a 4.94 ERA there. If I were the Cubs, I'd keep Dempster in the 'pen and go with someone like Sean Marshall. But that's just me.
Anyway, here's the box. Brian Bixler starts at shortstop; we'll see whether that can possibly be any worse than Luis Rivas, who finds himself on the bench after beginning the season as a huge liability on defense.
-P- The Pirates' AAA squad will stay in Indianapolis through at least 2012. A few weeks ago John Perrotto reported that they might move it to Buffalo, but apparently that won't happen.
-P- ESPN observes that the Miguel Cabrera and Magglio Ordonez-led Tigers are dead last in the majors in runs scored. The Pirates are fifth. Also, the Orioles are in first place and the Mets are in last. Nothing all that weird about any of that, but it's funny.
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the over/under
on mclouth homers this year, im setting at 19, what say ye bucco fans?
Aramis 5 BB - 2 K, he's come close before, I'd love to see a season from a Cubs player with more walks than strikeouts.
by kylejo on Apr 9, 2008 4:26 PM EDT 0 recs
If he ends up with 500 ABs
I'll easily say over (25)
by Bad Andy on
Apr 9, 2008 6:07 PM EDT
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Greetings fellow NL centralites...
I'd wish you guys good luck tonight...but I don't want your team to win! LOL...anyway, you guys may get to feast on our starter tonight...we never know which Dempster is going to show up.
As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.
by santoswoodenlegs on Apr 9, 2008 4:40 PM EDT 0 recs
no reason to root for us to lose
the Bucs do it themselves anyway
by Bad Andy on
Apr 9, 2008 6:08 PM EDT
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Yeah, I think you'd be hard pressed...
...to find a knowledgable Cubs fan who would vehemently disagree with you about Dempster. Then again, he does seem very focused on succeeding as a starter. He showed up to spring training in great shape, pitched very well during the spring and pitched pretty well in his first start.
I'm hoping Dempster gives the Cubs what we hoped to see from Jason Marquis last year. That is, not necessarily a dominant starter, but a guy who will eat up innings and keep the team in the game. My personal projection for Demp goes along the lines of 12 wins and 9 losses with a 4.52 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP. Not great, but decent enough.
And as a fourth- or fifth-level starter, I like Sean Marshall a lot, too. One quasi-problem with having Marshall in the rotation, though, would be that it would give the Cubs three lefty starters, and Lou would probably have to start Hill and Marshall back to back. That's not a huge deal to me, but others seem to have a problem with it.
In any case, may the best team win tonight, Bucs fans!
Nanika Ga Okoru!
by dat cubfan daver on Apr 9, 2008 5:04 PM EDT 0 recs
Why are the Cubs starting Reed Johnson in CF? I know Pie's a lefty but come on.
by Charlie on Apr 9, 2008 7:08 PM EDT 0 recs
Pens playoffs game 1
at home.
http://raisethejollyroger21.blogspot.com
by Raise the Jolly Roger on
Apr 9, 2008 7:10 PM EDT
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cuz of that
its not on TV here either
http://raisethejollyroger21.blogspot.com
by Raise the Jolly Roger on
Apr 9, 2008 7:11 PM EDT
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Hello from Milwaukee
I'm going to join you until our game starts add some anti-Cub synergy.
He's extremely quick and good.
by battlekow on Apr 9, 2008 7:16 PM EDT 0 recs
Dempster pitched surprisingly well against the Brewers last time out.
He's extremely quick and good.
by battlekow on Apr 9, 2008 7:19 PM EDT 0 recs
Cool, welcome. It may be pretty quiet tonight; this game isn't on TV and the Penguins are in the playoffs.
by Charlie on
Apr 9, 2008 7:20 PM EDT
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Hockey?
What's that?
He's extremely quick and good.
by battlekow on
Apr 9, 2008 7:23 PM EDT
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laroche
does he still not have a hit since the opener?
http://raisethejollyroger21.blogspot.com
by Raise the Jolly Roger on Apr 9, 2008 7:23 PM EDT 0 recs
seriously there is something mentally wrong with laroche
he gets two hits in march but cant do anything in april
You're a Pirates fan?
by thegetupkids on Apr 9, 2008 7:23 PM EDT 0 recs
La Roche means "The Rock"
That's where he gets his consistency from.
He's extremely quick and good.
by battlekow on
Apr 9, 2008 7:25 PM EDT
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my suggestion
is to hit laroche in the 7 spot and put doumit in cleanup
You're a Pirates fan?
by thegetupkids on Apr 9, 2008 7:25 PM EDT 0 recs
Doumit is on my fantasy team
So I wholeheartedly agree.
He's extremely quick and good.
by battlekow on
Apr 9, 2008 7:26 PM EDT
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Doumit is a sleeper
...and LaRoche is in a coma.
He's extremely quick and good.
by battlekow on
Apr 9, 2008 7:27 PM EDT
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lol
i drafted laroche late in mine thinking he would be a sleeper since he sucked last year...those two hits in the opener got my hopes up...but alas hes done nothing
You're a Pirates fan?
by thegetupkids on
Apr 9, 2008 7:29 PM EDT
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I have him on both of mine. I have a feeling I'm going to be pretty glad about that in a couple months.
by Charlie on
Apr 9, 2008 7:27 PM EDT
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Maybe. You never know what kinds of psychological factors go into decisions like that, though.
by Charlie on
Apr 9, 2008 7:27 PM EDT
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The Cubs are so boring
...that their own announcers have been talking about the days-old NCAA championship game for five minutes.
He's extremely quick and good.
by battlekow on Apr 9, 2008 7:28 PM EDT 0 recs
To their credit, they were talking about who Derrek Lee would be rooting for. But yeah, I mean, still!
It's still nice to have a couple quiet innings for Duke.
by Charlie on
Apr 9, 2008 7:30 PM EDT
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For luck

"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"
by roguejim on Apr 9, 2008 7:31 PM EDT 0 recs
Hey!
Find your own blog to invade!
He's extremely quick and good.
by battlekow on
Apr 9, 2008 7:32 PM EDT
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I came over
to see what the holdup was on the Coke and pierogie.
"I will agree that the attitude [at BCB] is ridiculous and they have done so much to instigate animosity and then block us from responding. Real mature!"
by roguejim on
Apr 9, 2008 7:34 PM EDT
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I ordered you some
They're racing over.
He's extremely quick and good.
by battlekow on
Apr 9, 2008 7:34 PM EDT
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So it turns out Bixler screwed up?
That's what I thought initially, but that was such a weird play.
He's extremely quick and good.
by battlekow on Apr 9, 2008 7:33 PM EDT 0 recs
Yeah, it was Bixler's fault, although a dollop of blame also goes to third base coach Tony Beasley, who didn't see it coming either.
by Charlie on
Apr 9, 2008 7:34 PM EDT
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Man, that Bixler play is the last thing I want to hear about right now.
by Charlie on Apr 9, 2008 7:33 PM EDT 0 recs
(That wasn't intended as a response to you, Battlekow.)
by Charlie on
Apr 9, 2008 7:40 PM EDT
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Haha, that's not why I shut up
Just nothing going on. I was actually reading about Primanti Bros on Wikipedia.
He's extremely quick and good.
by battlekow on
Apr 9, 2008 7:45 PM EDT
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Ha. That play has been discussed pretty extensively here and at Where's Van Slyke. Some pretty interesting discussion.
by Charlie on
Apr 9, 2008 7:47 PM EDT
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i could go for a primanti sammich right now
You're a Pirates fan?
by thegetupkids on
Apr 9, 2008 7:48 PM EDT
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First and third after the single by Soriano. One out. Duke doesn't seem to be having an easy time with the top of the order.
by Charlie on Apr 9, 2008 7:42 PM EDT 0 recs
after throwing so many pitches last time out, is Duke showing any signs of fatigue early on? I'm unfortunately unable to see this game.
by Chester J Lampwick on Apr 9, 2008 7:44 PM EDT 0 recs
Well, his last fastball was 87, which is slow even for him. I hadn't been paying attention before now, though. In the first inning, he was up around 90.
by Charlie on
Apr 9, 2008 7:45 PM EDT
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The short answer is that he looks about the same as he did last time out.
by Charlie on
Apr 9, 2008 7:46 PM EDT
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If Jeff Suppan can hang with Johnny Quest
...Young Jeff Suppan can hang with Ryan Dempster.
He's extremely quick and good.
by battlekow on Apr 9, 2008 7:47 PM EDT 0 recs
Is Duke young Jeff Suppan? That wouldn't be too bad if he grew up to be Suppan.
Who's your signature about?
by Charlie on
Apr 9, 2008 7:49 PM EDT
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I suppose "Jeff Suppan who is young" would be a better descriptor
They seem to have a similar (complete lack of) stuff.
Phil Garner said it about Carlos Lee last year. It was pretty funny, since Carlos Lee is a manslug.
He's extremely quick and good.
by battlekow on
Apr 9, 2008 7:51 PM EDT
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He does steal some bases, but he would've come up about tenth on my list of Brewers that quote might have been about. Weeks? Hart? Braun? etc.
by Charlie on
Apr 9, 2008 7:56 PM EDT
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He's very canny about the basestealing
But "quick" and "Carlos Lee" have been about a meal a day away from each other for awhile now.
He's extremely quick and good.
by battlekow on
Apr 9, 2008 7:58 PM EDT
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Just back from work...
missed anything much?
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
by UtesFan89 on Apr 9, 2008 7:49 PM EDT 0 recs
Nothing too important, no. Lots of baserunners for Duke.
by Charlie on
Apr 9, 2008 7:51 PM EDT
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That's
to be expected though.
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
by UtesFan89 on
Apr 9, 2008 7:56 PM EDT
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I made fun of Dempster a few hours ago, but the Pirates sure haven't figured him out.
by Charlie on Apr 9, 2008 7:55 PM EDT 0 recs
Wow, Duke just made Fukudome look silly. Maybe he expected a backdoor breaking ball?
by Charlie on Apr 9, 2008 7:58 PM EDT 0 recs
whats the over under for pitch count of duke
i say 100
You're a Pirates fan?
by thegetupkids on Apr 9, 2008 7:58 PM EDT 0 recs
j bay
will solve dempster now...hoping
You're a Pirates fan?
by thegetupkids on Apr 9, 2008 8:02 PM EDT 0 recs
That
didn't go so well.
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
by UtesFan89 on
Apr 9, 2008 8:04 PM EDT
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Duke
has 3 K's so far.
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
by UtesFan89 on Apr 9, 2008 8:03 PM EDT 0 recs
Yeah. They were real ones, too, just fooling good hitters.
by Charlie on
Apr 9, 2008 8:04 PM EDT
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Did the true story behind LaRoche's thumb ever come out? Was it a true injury or was it an excuse just to keep him and his .083 BA out of the lineup?
by Chester J Lampwick on Apr 9, 2008 8:06 PM EDT 0 recs
*checks outside for other signs of the apocolypse*
by Chester J Lampwick on
Apr 9, 2008 8:08 PM EDT
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Unfortunately
(if I'm correct) he's still hitless this month.
The apocalypse will be signaled by him getting a hit, not a walk...
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
by UtesFan89 on
Apr 9, 2008 8:10 PM EDT
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What happened to the offense?
They had 17 runs scored in the last 2 games... and they've only gotten 1 hit through 4 today.
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
by UtesFan89 on Apr 9, 2008 8:12 PM EDT 0 recs
anyone watching this game on mlb.tv?
gameday showed the ball that doumit hit was at the center field wall basically
You're a Pirates fan?
by thegetupkids on Apr 9, 2008 8:12 PM EDT 0 recs
I think this is the best, smartest pitching I've seen from Duke in about a year.
by Charlie on Apr 9, 2008 8:14 PM EDT 0 recs
Well, maybe '06. The velocity he showed in 2005 still isn't back.
by Charlie on
Apr 9, 2008 8:19 PM EDT
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And sadly...
the 1 run allowed might still prove to be the biggest obstacle in his attempt to pick up a win.
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
by UtesFan89 on
Apr 9, 2008 8:17 PM EDT
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that would suck
if this effort by duke is wasted
You're a Pirates fan?
by thegetupkids on Apr 9, 2008 8:18 PM EDT 0 recs
Is Bixler...
looking even partially good out there?
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
by UtesFan89 on Apr 9, 2008 8:19 PM EDT 0 recs
Looks fine on defense so far. Hasn't done much at the plate.
by Charlie on
Apr 9, 2008 8:20 PM EDT
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Tough play for the Pirates on that single by Fukudome.
I can't believe Fukudome's going to hit for much power over time if he keeps swinging like that. He didn't put his body into that ball at all.
by Charlie on Apr 9, 2008 8:27 PM EDT 0 recs
Nice to see
Duke get out of that without giving up a run.
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
by UtesFan89 on Apr 9, 2008 8:30 PM EDT 0 recs
i guess zach duke is growing up
You're a Pirates fan?
by thegetupkids on Apr 9, 2008 8:32 PM EDT 0 recs
Now,
if only the offense would follow suit.
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
by UtesFan89 on
Apr 9, 2008 8:33 PM EDT
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gotta knock dempster from the game
You're a Pirates fan?
by thegetupkids on
Apr 9, 2008 8:35 PM EDT
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Good ole
Jason-ity
Biased Fan
A disillusioned Pirates fan in Utah...
by UtesFan89 on Apr 9, 2008 8:36 PM EDT 0 recs
I don't know, but Duke's not really having any trouble... has he thrown too many pitches?
by Charlie on
Apr 9, 2008 8:44 PM EDT
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