Series Thread: Cubs vs. D-Backs April 4-6

SportsWorld · Post #81 » by **SportsWorld** » Mon Apr 4, 2011 9:22 pm

jl342323 wrote:
SportsWorld wrote:Nice job by the pitching. Hitting still needs to step it up but the pitching has been tremendous.

soriano looks great. we gonna win the division!!!

Soriano hasn't been great exactly but he's coming through with a ton of timely clutch hits which he hasn't done at all as a Cub.

SportsWorld · Post #82 » by **SportsWorld** » Mon Apr 4, 2011 9:27 pm

Carlos Pena listed as day-to-day with sprained thumb

Posey H8er · Post #83 » by **Posey H8er** » Mon Apr 4, 2011 9:55 pm

is this the first time Soriano has started off the season with the Cubs hot and not injured? i like it 8-)

ramadden · Post #84 » by **ramadden** » Mon Apr 4, 2011 10:21 pm

One person I'd like to give a shout out to is Carlos Pena. In this young season I've enjoyed watching his ABs and given the problem our team has had executing on offense, the sacrifice fly he hit today and the one he hit the other day have been very appreciated. His ABs have been good, and I've enjoyed his approach a lot.

Posey H8er · Post #85 » by **Posey H8er** » Mon Apr 4, 2011 11:22 pm

agreed. Pena has looked really solid thus far. he's been really 'smooth' at the plate even though his average doesn't reflect that.

Cashner starts for the first time ever tomorrow, that should be very interesting.

Lighting It Up · Post #86 » by **Lighting It Up** » Tue Apr 5, 2011 2:53 am

Pena has surprised me at how patient he has been at the plate. Didn't expect that out of a guy with low batting average. Maybe he has changed his approach somewhat.

karch34 · Post #87 » by **karch34** » Tue Apr 5, 2011 3:24 am

Pena surprised me too. I know he has a history of striking out a lot, but looks much more patient and professional in his approach than I expected.

Good outing out of Wells. Outside of Dempster's bad start the pitching is looking pretty decent. Good to see Marmol get back on track too.

SportsWorld · Post #88 » by **SportsWorld** » Tue Apr 5, 2011 4:22 am

Yeah Pena has been awesome so far. He isn't hitting for average right now but I haven't had any problems with him so far. On a team that isn't scoring many runs so far, 4 RBI's in 4 games is pretty impressive.

Old Style · Post #89 » by **Old Style** » Tue Apr 5, 2011 1:54 pm

Lighting It Up wrote:Pena has surprised me at how patient he has been at the plate. Didn't expect that out of a guy with low batting average. Maybe he has changed his approach somewhat.

The patience is what has surprised me too. A guy with a strikeout history that he has, and a traditionally low batting average doesn't typically look that patient at the plate. I don't expect him to suddenly bat .300, but even if he goes from .196 last year to .240 or .250 this year, it would make a significant difference.

Old Style · Post #90 » by **Old Style** » Tue Apr 5, 2011 4:44 pm

Cubs have the chance to be over .500 today for the first time since 2009.

Andrew Cashner's first start in the majors today.

Cubs lineup:

1.Fukudome, RF 2.Castro, SS 3.Byrd, CF 4.Ramirez, 3B 5.Colvin, 1B 6.Soriano, LF 7.Barney, 2B 8.Hill, C 9.Cashner, P

Tyler Colvin is starting at 1B, so Pena's thumb must still be bothering him, and Koyie Hill gets his first start of the season.

Posey H8er · Post #91 » by **Posey H8er** » Tue Apr 5, 2011 5:46 pm

this could be a tough one, the plan is for no Kerry Wood or Carlos Marmol appearances.

#1TKfan · Post #92 » by **#1TKfan** » Tue Apr 5, 2011 5:50 pm

Old Style wrote:Cubs have the chance to be over .500 today for the first time since 2009.

Andrew Cashner's first start in the majors today.

Cubs lineup:

1.Fukudome, RF 2.Castro, SS 3.Byrd, CF 4.Ramirez, 3B 5.Colvin, 1B 6.Soriano, LF 7.Barney, 2B 8.Hill, C 9.Cashner, P

Tyler Colvin is starting at 1B, so Pena's thumb must still be bothering him, and Koyie Hill gets his first start of the season.

Id like to see Fuku batting lead off on a consistent basis.

mattbulls · Post #93 » by **mattbulls** » Tue Apr 5, 2011 5:51 pm

Posey H8er wrote:this could be a tough one, the plan is for no Kerry Wood or Carlos Marmol appearances.

Well Cashner is planing on a CGSHO so it's all good.

jl342323 · Post #94 » by **jl342323** » Tue Apr 5, 2011 5:52 pm

who likes byrd in the 3 hole? why quade why?

Old Style · Post #95 » by **Old Style** » Tue Apr 5, 2011 6:12 pm

jl342323 wrote:who likes byrd in the 3 hole? why quade why?

I don't get it either. Sooner or later, Byrd's gonna have to drop down to the bottom half of the order, unless he starts swinging the bat better. Just 4 games in, so Quade must be giving him a chance to work it out himself.

mattbulls · Post #96 » by **mattbulls** » Tue Apr 5, 2011 6:25 pm

Nobody likes it.

mattbulls · Post #97 » by **mattbulls** » Tue Apr 5, 2011 6:25 pm

Nice start by Ca$h!

jl342323 · Post #98 » by **jl342323** » Tue Apr 5, 2011 6:29 pm

cashner reminds me of kerry wood

mattbulls · Post #99 » by **mattbulls** » Tue Apr 5, 2011 6:29 pm

Casto now batting below .500, bum.

mattbulls · Post #100 » by **mattbulls** » Tue Apr 5, 2011 6:31 pm

2 men on for Aramis!