Rolling along at 80-50, the Cubs will travel to Pittsburg, to try to extend their streak of 8 sraight winning series in a row. The Buc's traded away Jason Bay and Xavier Nady, so they are by no means an offensive juggernaut. They are in extra innings with the Brewers, as I am writing this out, where with any luck, they will have to go 14-15 innings, tire out their bullpen, yet beat the Brewers. In the upcoming series, the Cubs will send Ted Lilly (12-7 4.25 ERA) to toe the rubber, against Jeff Karstens (2-2 2.25 ERA) on Monday. Karstens pitched against the Cubs in his major league debut, going 5 shutout innings on Aug 1st, to get his first win. On Tuesday, Ian snell (5-10 5.60 ERA) faces Big Z (13-5 3.29 ERA). Then in the series finale, it will be Zach Duke (4-12 5.29 ERA) who faces Jason Marquis (8-7 4.76 ERA) Marquis sailed along in his last start for 5 innings, then fell apart and got a no-decision. The Cubs have a .500 road record at this point. It would be very nice to see them take another series and establish a winning road record as well. Facing a depleated Buc's squad, that shouldn't be asking all that much.

_________________
Go Cubs!!!!

With Karstens going in one game -- and Marquis in another -- a series win could be a daunting task.

_________________
President of Blake Shetlon fan club

The first time a team faces a pitcher, the pitcher has a real advantage. The second time around, hitters have a better idea of what he throws, his velocity, arm angle and release point. As a result, they usually have better luck the second time around. Karstens looked pretty good in that start Aug. 1st, but lets not be handing him the Cy Young just yet. As far as Marquis start is concerned, Lou just needs to pull him quicker. He will be facing a guywho's ERA is a half run worse in Zach Duke.Plus, with their teams offense as depleated as they are, they may not score all that much. Though young players with no pressure (out of contention) sometimes play much better. We shall see. But I like the chances for the team 30 games over .500, to beat the team thats 16 under, at least 2 of 3 times.

_________________
Go Cubs!!!!

this series could work out well for the cubs, since milwaukee is in st louis. if the cubs can somehow take all 3, they can really put the cards away for good if the brewers continue rolling along. if the cards get hot against the brewers, thats even better. first things first, though. hopefully they can just continue winning series and take at least 2, and maybe get greedy and take all 3.

Well, they need to take 2; losing 2 against a bad team at home would be a stumble for them.

_________________
You can't see me because of internet.

The landowner effectively owns part shares in millions of part-time slaves called, "taxpayers." -Roy L
A Personal Relationship with Jesus?

Matt, the games are in Pittsburgh, but either way still do not want to lose 2 out of 3 to a bad team.

_________________
"He is a loathsome, offensive brute
--yet I can't look away."

But, yeah, they still ought not lose 2 games to that team.

_________________
You can't see me because of internet.

The landowner effectively owns part shares in millions of part-time slaves called, "taxpayers." -Roy L
A Personal Relationship with Jesus?

A 2.25 ERA in four starts is good. There's no basis for the Cy Young comment, since no one has said anything like that about Karstens.
As for Marquis, you posted in the Nats thread how his game was the shaky one of the series. This game seems less shaky???
Looks like someone got their panties in a bunch because another poster didn't predict a sweep or state that the Cubs are a lock to win the series.

_________________
President of Blake Shetlon fan club

i predict a sweep, and the cubs are a lock to win the series.

Thanks MOFO!! Actually Mojito guy, I never like when Marquis is pitching-too unpredictable. But he is matched with someone who's ERA is a half run higher and has a 4-12 record at this point. Plus the Buco's have a less than outstanding offense, which al leads me to like this matchup better than the one he had against the Nationals.

Great to see Edmonds get the triple and get them on the board with another nice shot from Fukadome-who didn't miss another dinger by much. Great start....No surprise

_________________
Go Cubs!!!!

A-Ram bites that hand that once fed him-again. 3 run homer to extend the lead to 5-0. Man this guy kills the Pirates since they traded him to the Cubs. They must feel like Cub fans felt about Brock.

Oh, Mojito boy, what did I tell you about teams facing a guy a second time around?? 5 runs so far and still batting in the 3rd inning.

_________________
Go Cubs!!!!

PNC Park is a morgue, it's a quiet crowd when you can hear the vendors.

Hopefully Lilly can pitch better than he did in Atlanta when he was given a sizable early lead.

Lilly pitches according to what his offense is giving him. He will pump fastballs down the middle and make them hit them just to throw strikes. So if given a big lead expect him to throw a bunch of strikes and see a lot in play.

Man, you guys just destroy teams. It's amazing how many blow-out wins the Cubs have this year.

May they continue up to and then through October.

_________________
Stupidity irritates the crap outta me... and yes, I irritate myself far too often.

You guys lead all of MLB in "run differential". Pretty wide margin from the 2nd place team. I think the White sox are 4th or 5th.

Yeah, they can absolutely batter bad pitching. Unfortunately, most playoff teams have good pitching.

_________________
We all have private ails. The troublemakers are they who need public cures for their private ails.- Eric Hoffer

These guys fucking blow (the other teams out).

_________________
https://twitter.com/DrKenCast

They were second last I checked.
And keep you undies on. This is the Pirates. Unless that was sarcasm in which case carry on.

_________________
"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

It's close, they're 3rd (the Sox), +110 to Boston's +111, these are yesterdays numbers.

And the Cubs are first in run differential with +175.

_________________
"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

I didn't know the guy was going to go out and throw like Robert Young. Marcus Welby got his ass handed to him. I guess father didn't know best.

_________________
President of Blake Shetlon fan club

It wasn't sarcasm or excitement on my part. Just an observation.

Every other day I flip on the Cubs they are blowing somebody out. Or so it seems.

ESPN's standing's have a pretty cool feature that you can select any day and see the standings a this point last year.
SO!
The Cubs currently +175 (soon to be +186 or so at the end of the day) is impressive. Last year on this date, they were +51, still good but off the mark set by the Red Sox and the Yanks at +173 and +158 respectively.

But the Sox, man, talk about a total reversal from last year. On this date last year they were -140 in scoring differential, and are +110 today. Impressive.

_________________
"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

What's the record for "run differencial" in a season?

Just curious. You seem like you know where to find that, Darkside?

That is an impressive turn-a-round for the Sox.

Some recent history:

2007: Bos +210 NYY +191 (sox -146, chc +62)
2006: NYY +163 (sox +74, chc -121)
2005: STL +169 (sox +94, cle +149, KC -228)
2004: STL +195, Bos +177 (chc +124 sox +37)
2003: ATL +167, NYY +161 (chc +42, sox +76)
2002: LAA +207 NYY +200 BOS +194 SF +167 (chc -53, sox +58)

_________________
"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

Jeeze, I think len reads this board. He just started talking abou the run differential!
Panic!
Len if you're reading it's time for new 'do. You know, maybe something a little less 1997. Anyhow, great work. Except for the ceasar cut.

_________________
"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

You never know, Len is a computer geek and listens to MJH.

_________________
We all have private ails. The troublemakers are they who need public cures for their private ails.- Eric Hoffer

I know it's 8 runs in the 8th but hell Bob Howry still makes me nervous.

_________________
"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

Just checking in. I just haven't felt needed enough to post lately.

relax. relax. relax.

_________________
RELAX.
EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE OK.
TAKE A DEEP BREATH.
GO TO YOUR HAPPY PLACE.
ALL IS WELL.

He might- he did a chat here once, didn't he?

_________________
Fire Phil Emery