Yep, the Cubs are going for five consecutive losses against the Pittsburgh Pirates. This loss would actually place the Cubs as the doormat of the National League should they lose it. The Cubs are sending Juan Mateo to the mound. Mateo has a nice cosmetic 4.15 earned run average in his young career, but his WHIP is 1.69 and as allowed 33 hits in 26 innings of work. I can't expect much here, but should I? Mateo gave up three runs in two innings of work before being removed against the Pirates last time out. I am expecting more of the same from the rookie today.
The Pirates are countering with Victor Santos who is facing the Cubs for the fourth time this season. The Cubs have touched him for 12 runs in 17 innings, a comendable performance. Santos is sporting a nifty 5.54 ERA so the Cubs ought to have a chance to put some runs up on the board. Santos has only made four starts since the All-Star break. He's flipped between the rotation and the pen the last month or so. He's got an ERA over 7.00 over that span. All signs point to the Cubs' offense putting up a good performance tomorrow. I still wouldn't bet on it.
Earlier today Jim Hendry announced that the Cubs would recall Jae-kuk Ryu and a catcher tomorrow. The Cubs already have 30 men on the active roster, so what difference is 32 going to make at the team meals? With Ryu on his way up, the only pitcher on the 40 man roster who isn't injured and isn't on the active roster is Jerome Williams. Who knows if he's ever going to get his fat ass recalled.
The catcher that'll be recalled will certainly be Jose Reyes. Reyes is one of the best defensive catchers in the system, much like Geovanny Soto in that respect. He has split time between West Tenn (AA) and Iowa (AAA) this season hitting .229 and .260 respectively. Reyes actually has a .676 OPS in 104 AB for Iowa, but he's most of the time his OPS has a 5 as the first digit when he gets a significant number of at-bats. I guess there is an outside shot that the Cubs call up Jake Fox. Fox hasn't caught this much this season, but he could moonlight at 1B and get some nice time. The Cubs would need to add him to the forty man roster to do this of course. In fact, the more i think about it Fox is a better callup given the situation as a third catcher who can play other positions and has a bat.
Today's loss was another profitable one for the Cubs in the race for the first pick of the draft. In draft news for the day, Justin Jackson, a SS from TC Roberson HS (Va) committed to Arizona State. This school is one of the more well known hard sign schools. Jackson looks like he is shaping up to be a tough sign. First he was rumored to be in talks with Scott Boras and now this. Jackson is a toolsy SS with flashy defense and an above average bat. He's currently viewed as a top 15 talent in the draft, and possibly the top prep position talent. He's a guy the Cubs could go for because of the tools, but I think the Cubs need someone who isn't as raw as him. Anyways, updating the standings that really matter:
1. 88 Kansas City Royals
2. 83 Tampa Bay Devil Rays
2. 83 Pittsburgh Pirates
4. 82 Chicago Cubs
5. 77 Washington Nationals
The Devil Rays, Cubs and Pirates all have 55 wins so the Cubs are a 1/2 game out of second place. Go figure. The Pirates and Cubs have three more games this week. The Cubs have three rookies going. I like our chances of moving up. The Royals are playing the Yankees, so don't know how much ground we pick up there. They've been playing like they want to hang on to their lead.
Stat of the Day: Top 47 National League Hitters in BB
1. 105 Barry Bonds, LF - San Francisco Giants
2. 96 Nick Johnson, 1B - Washington Nationals
3. 93 Adam Dunn, LF - Cincinnati Reds
4. 92 Brian Giles, LF - San Diego Padres
5. 91 Bobby Abreu, RF - Philadelphia Phillies
5. 91 Morgan Ensberg, 3B - Houston Astros
7. 86 Jason Bay, LF - Pittsburgh Pirates
8. 82 Lance Berkman, 1B - Houston Astros
9. 81 Pat Burrell, LF - Philadelphia Phillies
10. 79 Todd Helton, 1B - Colorado Rockies
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.
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47. 45 Aramis Ramirez, 3B - Chicago Cubs
Yes, Aramis Ramirez is the first Cub on the list. Yes, that's Bobby Abreu's total through July 31st. He's got 22 more since joining the Bronx Bombers. It should come as no surprise as to why the Cubs offense is terrible. They simply don't know what a walk is.
The Pirates are countering with Victor Santos who is facing the Cubs for the fourth time this season. The Cubs have touched him for 12 runs in 17 innings, a comendable performance. Santos is sporting a nifty 5.54 ERA so the Cubs ought to have a chance to put some runs up on the board. Santos has only made four starts since the All-Star break. He's flipped between the rotation and the pen the last month or so. He's got an ERA over 7.00 over that span. All signs point to the Cubs' offense putting up a good performance tomorrow. I still wouldn't bet on it.
Earlier today Jim Hendry announced that the Cubs would recall Jae-kuk Ryu and a catcher tomorrow. The Cubs already have 30 men on the active roster, so what difference is 32 going to make at the team meals? With Ryu on his way up, the only pitcher on the 40 man roster who isn't injured and isn't on the active roster is Jerome Williams. Who knows if he's ever going to get his fat ass recalled.
The catcher that'll be recalled will certainly be Jose Reyes. Reyes is one of the best defensive catchers in the system, much like Geovanny Soto in that respect. He has split time between West Tenn (AA) and Iowa (AAA) this season hitting .229 and .260 respectively. Reyes actually has a .676 OPS in 104 AB for Iowa, but he's most of the time his OPS has a 5 as the first digit when he gets a significant number of at-bats. I guess there is an outside shot that the Cubs call up Jake Fox. Fox hasn't caught this much this season, but he could moonlight at 1B and get some nice time. The Cubs would need to add him to the forty man roster to do this of course. In fact, the more i think about it Fox is a better callup given the situation as a third catcher who can play other positions and has a bat.
Today's loss was another profitable one for the Cubs in the race for the first pick of the draft. In draft news for the day, Justin Jackson, a SS from TC Roberson HS (Va) committed to Arizona State. This school is one of the more well known hard sign schools. Jackson looks like he is shaping up to be a tough sign. First he was rumored to be in talks with Scott Boras and now this. Jackson is a toolsy SS with flashy defense and an above average bat. He's currently viewed as a top 15 talent in the draft, and possibly the top prep position talent. He's a guy the Cubs could go for because of the tools, but I think the Cubs need someone who isn't as raw as him. Anyways, updating the standings that really matter:
1. 88 Kansas City Royals
2. 83 Tampa Bay Devil Rays
2. 83 Pittsburgh Pirates
4. 82 Chicago Cubs
5. 77 Washington Nationals
The Devil Rays, Cubs and Pirates all have 55 wins so the Cubs are a 1/2 game out of second place. Go figure. The Pirates and Cubs have three more games this week. The Cubs have three rookies going. I like our chances of moving up. The Royals are playing the Yankees, so don't know how much ground we pick up there. They've been playing like they want to hang on to their lead.
Stat of the Day: Top 47 National League Hitters in BB
1. 105 Barry Bonds, LF - San Francisco Giants
2. 96 Nick Johnson, 1B - Washington Nationals
3. 93 Adam Dunn, LF - Cincinnati Reds
4. 92 Brian Giles, LF - San Diego Padres
5. 91 Bobby Abreu, RF - Philadelphia Phillies
5. 91 Morgan Ensberg, 3B - Houston Astros
7. 86 Jason Bay, LF - Pittsburgh Pirates
8. 82 Lance Berkman, 1B - Houston Astros
9. 81 Pat Burrell, LF - Philadelphia Phillies
10. 79 Todd Helton, 1B - Colorado Rockies
.
.
.
47. 45 Aramis Ramirez, 3B - Chicago Cubs
Yes, Aramis Ramirez is the first Cub on the list. Yes, that's Bobby Abreu's total through July 31st. He's got 22 more since joining the Bronx Bombers. It should come as no surprise as to why the Cubs offense is terrible. They simply don't know what a walk is.
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