Nice Job Sweet Lou - Asshole!!!!!!!!

[frankb03]

No doubt in my mind if Lou was saving Z...he should have pinch hit him in the 6th.

I question this move far greater than his early yank. Lou knew he was limiting Z then why not pinch hit for him in a critical situation.

[TheRook]

I question this move far greater than his early yank. Lou knew he was limiting Z then why not pinch hit for him in a critical situation.

BINGO....

Hopefully it doesn't come back to haunt us. Game two is ultra critical.

[molta02]

typical cubs.

[jt4545]

Good Call G-greek A-hole Dumb A-hole

[GOLDENGREEK]

But here's the issue. There's no saying the Cubs still win the game with Zambrano pitched into the 7, 8 or 9 inning.

Marmol been solid. More solid than Z.

Prior to the Florida game last week he hadn't given up a ER in almost 2 month, dating back to August 10. He had 22+ scoreless innings.

It was a brilliant move. Zambrano's ERA in the 7th inning was 7.63 this season. His ERA from the 7th inning on was 6.05. His ERA from the 5th inning on 6.19. From the 5th inning on Zambrano has not been very good this season.

IMO Cub fans are playing Monday morning QB. As a non-Cubs fan replacing a starter that's been very poor late in the games for a middle reliever that's been SOLID is a sound tactical move.

Marmol is a stud and one of the best out there, BUT he is basicly a rookie and to put him in there with the game tied in his first ever playoff game -- i dont agree. Your trends are obviously accurate however watching the game Z was getting stronger and pitching better as the game went on.

Also as you and Rook said, if this was a planed move and they knew he was taking him out why let him bat with the bases loaded and 2 outs.

This 3 days rest thing is bullshit also as Z did this 2 1/2 weeks ago and got SHELLED.

Also lets ask San Diego and Peavy how well they fared with 3 days rest.

[Chado1]

I dont agree with not pinch hitting for Big Z in the 6th but I know that Lou was thinking he had doubled and lined out HARD to short stop in both of his at bats and probably thought the way Z was hitting the ball of Webb that he could have a better chance of getting a hit than Murton or Ward.....

[Three Jack]

I did not watch the game so I am basing this just on what I read today...I have no issue with him pulling him, but then he should have pinch hit for him. And not having him bunt with a runner on 2nd and no outs against Webb is a 'Willie Randolph' type move...and that ain't good!

[BillMill71]

I dont agree with not pinch hitting for Big Z in the 6th but I know that Lou was thinking he had doubled and lined out HARD to short stop in both of his at bats and probably thought the way Z was hitting the ball of Webb that he could have a better chance of getting a hit than Murton or Ward.....

In hockey if you want some one to fight, you send an enforcer not Pat Lafontaine.

In baseball if you want someone to hit, you don't send a good hitting pitcher, you send someone paid to hit to the plate

[Chado1]

In hockey if you want some one to fight, you send an enforcer not Pat Lafontaine.

In baseball if you want someone to hit, you don't send a good hitting pitcher, you send someone paid to hit to the plate

I definately agree with you Bill but what I am saying is that with how Webb is pitching some guys can hit off him and some cant....Z seemed to have been able to get a good feel for his pitches based on hist first two at bats and maybe Murton or Ward had bad career numbers against him I am not sure...if Murton and Ward had an at bat vs. Webb similar to the 3 straight strikeouts after the lead of doubke by big z in his first at bat than maybe that was what he was thinking....

Definately agree with you about the fact that Z is piad to pitch and Murton and Ward are paid to hit but maybe they have worse numbers off Webb than Z does......

[GrandPa]

I guess I am missing something here. Maybe I watched a different game than this board or the rest of the country, but the one I clearly remember seeing ( and is backed up everywhere I have checked) shows that the Cubs scored exactly one (1) run.

In baseball, when your team scores one run, you have to shut out the opponent, as there is no tiebreaking process.

Time after time, people complain about what their team or manager did and didn't do, without either A) recognizing other more important factors or B) giving credit to the other team.

Brandon Webb is a pretty good pitcher. In fact, he has more Cy Youngs than Carlos Zambrano, and the rest of the entire Cubs staff combined. The Cubs were able to scratch out 4 hits for one run against Webb, so to ignore the fact that the Cubs needed to pitch a shutout to win, is to ignore the real story.

Overstating the obvious, yes, but sometimes the facts get overlooked in the hyperbole.

Ask any pitcher what he thinks his chances of winning are when his team scores one run, and he will be lying if he says he likes his chances.

[Chado1]

I guess I am missing something here. Maybe I watched a different game than this board or the rest of the country, but the one I clearly remember seeing ( and is backed up everywhere I have checked) shows that the Cubs scored exactly one (1) run.

In baseball, when your team scores one run, you have to shut out the opponent, as there is no tiebreaking process.

Time after time, people complain about what their team or manager did and didn't do, without either A) recognizing other more important factors or B) giving credit to the other team.

Brandon Webb is a pretty good pitcher. In fact, he has more Cy Youngs than Carlos Zambrano, and the rest of the entire Cubs staff combined. The Cubs were able to scratch out 4 hits for one run against Webb, so to ignore the fact that the Cubs needed to pitch a shutout to win, is to ignore the real story.

Overstating the obvious, yes, but sometimes the facts get overlooked in the hyperbole.

Ask any pitcher what he thinks his chances of winning are when his team scores one run, and he will be lying if he says he likes his chances.

Great point Gramps....the fact is the Cubs got one run and in playoff baseball you need to score as much as possible to win and they didnt get the job done offensively....

[TheRook]

I definately agree with you Bill but what I am saying is that with how Webb is pitching some guys can hit off him and some cant....Z seemed to have been able to get a good feel for his pitches based on hist first two at bats and maybe Murton or Ward had bad career numbers against him I am not sure...if Murton and Ward had an at bat vs. Webb similar to the 3 straight strikeouts after the lead of doubke by big z in his first at bat than maybe that was what he was thinking....

Definately agree with you about the fact that Z is piad to pitch and Murton and Ward are paid to hit but maybe they have worse numbers off Webb than Z does......

Ward was 2-6 with a triple and a HR vs webb
Murton walked the only time he faced him....
Ronny Cedeno was 2-3


I know what your saying buddy...but if your going to take him out in the 7th, there is NO reason you don't pinch hit and put a professional hitter up there.

Zambrano based on my sheets had never faced Webb before yesterday.

[TheRook]

I guess I am missing something here. Maybe I watched a different game than this board or the rest of the country, but the one I clearly remember seeing ( and is backed up everywhere I have checked) shows that the Cubs scored exactly one (1) run.

In baseball, when your team scores one run, you have to shut out the opponent, as there is no tiebreaking process.

Time after time, people complain about what their team or manager did and didn't do, without either A) recognizing other more important factors or B) giving credit to the other team.

Brandon Webb is a pretty good pitcher. In fact, he has more Cy Youngs than Carlos Zambrano, and the rest of the entire Cubs staff combined. The Cubs were able to scratch out 4 hits for one run against Webb, so to ignore the fact that the Cubs needed to pitch a shutout to win, is to ignore the real story.

Overstating the obvious, yes, but sometimes the facts get overlooked in the hyperbole.

Ask any pitcher what he thinks his chances of winning are when his team scores one run, and he will be lying if he says he likes his chances.

Great post Gramps...and just gives credence to the fact that there should have been a pinch hitter in the 6th with the bases loaded.

[Chado1]

Ward was 2-6 with a triple and a HR vs webb
Murton walked the only time he faced him....
Ronny Cedeno was 2-3

With that being said than yes one of these hitters should have been pinched.....

[TheRook]

With that being said than yes one of these hitters should have been pinched.....

Wasn't trying to call you out there....you just peaked my curiosity on that one, and had to check.

Yeah, i think so too buddy.

But it's not the end of the world...especially if we win tonight.