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Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2011 14:23:36 GMT -5
[shadow=red,left,300]Chicago Cubs (54-35) @ Milwaukee Brewers (49-39)[/shadow]
CHC: Neftali Feliz (11-6, 3.28 ERA) MIL: Shelby Miller (6-9, 3.77 ERA)
Despite crafting themselves into a paper All-Star team, the Chicago Cubs have company atop the NL Central with St. Louis, Pittsburgh, Houston, and tonight's Cubs opponent, Milwaukee, all within 6.5 games of the Cubs.
Of course, the Cubs lead over the Cental was only a perilous 1.5 games back as of last Sunday, before they reeled off a seven game winning streak which included sweeps of the Brewers and Pirates.
The Cubs took care of business during their sweep of the Brewers in large part to their pitching. David Price allowed only six hits and no walks in seven innings of three-run ball in the opener, allowing the Cubs to manufacture enough offense to win.
In the middle game, Brian McCann belted a three-run home run in the first inning off Shelby Miller and Joey Devine cleaned up a potential mess in the ninth, while Brett Anderson dominated the Brewers with a one-run, eight inning performance in the final game. Joey Devine closed out that game for his third save of the series.
The Brewers are hoping that a trip home will allow the team to return the favor. Losers of five of six to Chicago this season, the Brewers have yet to face them at home. The Brewers will also need a stronger performance from Miller, who only lasted two innings in his meeting with the Cubs last week. Miller has impressive stuff, but tends to lose command from time to time, where he becomes hittable.
He'll need to be on because Neftali Feliz has really settled in over the last month, not allowing more than three runs in any start. The young ace is two wins away from matching his career high and would love to do so before the calendar turns to August.
Questions for the GM's. For Garrett Cubbies, with the exception of Joey Devine who has been great in July, your bullpen hasn't improved much since your last appearance on the Game of the Week in late June. The trade deadline is fast approaching. Can we expect a trade?
On the other hand, your starting staff is really starting to take over. With the way the team has performed, do you believe you have the best starters in the game?
Finally, Jay Bruce is hitting .373 with the Cubs what does he add to your team when he's going well?
For Brandon W, you really got squashed by Chicago's staff last week. How do you feel your offense matches up against their starters?
Shelby Miller got hit hard against the Cubs last week. What does he have to do differently this time to keep your team in the game?
You sent Ed Love down to the minors to change his approach. It looks like he's added a long uppercut to his swing, but it takes him longer to get the bat head around. Is that something you specifically worked on him with?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2011 15:14:42 GMT -5
[shadow=red,left,300] For Brandon W, you really got squashed by Chicago's staff last week. How do you feel your offense matches up against their starters?
Shelby Miller got hit hard against the Cubs last week. What does he have to do differently this time to keep your team in the game?
You sent Ed Love down to the minors to change his approach. It looks like he's added a long uppercut to his swing, but it takes him longer to get the bat head around. Is that something you specifically worked on him with? The Cubs have dominated us all season. With a 49-39 record you would expect our offense to be a little better than it is but unfortunately we are in the bottom half in terms of money offensive categories. We recently lost our starting LF, Michael Saunders as well so all of that piles up. The second half of the season we expect big results from Gamel and Jennings and want Prado, Alcides and Haydel to continue to play to the level in which they. Our pitching is great and we are very happy with them. When Shelby struggles he tends to lose control as you mentioned and it seems once he walks someone early it leads to a confidence demoralizer. But, with that being said we have great confidence in Shelby and acquired him from St. Louis and at a cost we felt was very cheap. Shleby, is a great pitcher and we know he will bounce back. Outside of Bucholz he would be considered by many as our best starter. Unfortunately, there is a lot of pressure on our pitchers mostly because of the struggling offense. Stay tuned on that thought as you could see some moves in the near future made by the Brewers. When in the minors we didn't work on anything specifically with Ed. We wanted him to clear his head for the most part. He has all the talent in the world but we believe the pressure really got to him seeing the success for Webb in Tampa and the fact that he was picked before Webb. It's a lot to ask from a player of Love's age but we believe he will at some point be able to help this year. He was given the call once Saunders went down for a month, so here is shot to show he belongs and so far he really has done that. Hopefully he can keep it up and at some point get back into our lineup as regular.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 18, 2011 15:45:57 GMT -5
Cubbies, with the exception of Joey Devine who has been great in July, your bullpen hasn't improved much since your last appearance on the Game of the Week in late June. The trade deadline is fast approaching. Can we expect a trade?
We are always interested in making trades but our farm system is getting thin! I'm going to give Jordan Pratt some time in the Pen the next couple of weeks and see how he can produce. Rogers just isn't putting up the numbers like he did last year and if he can't produce you could see him shipped out of Chicago!!
On the other hand, your starting staff is really starting to take over. With the way the team has performed, do you believe you have the best starters in the game?
I really like our rotation as a whole! I'm not sure we are #1 but I would put us in a close three-way tie for number one. I really like Atlanta's rotation from top to bottom as well as Tampa Bay's. Straw has been a force this year....its pretty special to watch that kid pitch. I think once Tyler Matzek starts pitching the way he is capable the Rays might have the best overall rotation though!
Finally, Jay Bruce is hitting .373 with the Cubs what does he add to your team when he's going well?
Well recently he's added about 144 million to our budget the next eight seasons ;D. I really like this kid and wanted to get my hands on him for a long time! He adds a lot to our line-up....I think of him as the spark plug! Even when the team seems off he still gets his hits....he just wants to win so bad and you can really tell by the way he plays the game. If Hicks can be productive in the lead-off spot I think this line-up could be one of the scariest in baseball!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2011 12:00:13 GMT -5
Postgame Wrap
Cubs 3 - Brewers 2
Milwaukee must be sick of Chicago's starting pitching. Chicago isn't sick of winning.
The Cubs extended their winning streak to eight games after their 3-2 win over the Brewers. It was the fourth straight quality start by a Cubs pitcher against the Brewers, and second strong performance by Neftali Feliz.
Feliz worked 8 innings, allowing just a Mat Gamel home run in the eighth, giving up six hits and striking six. This came on the heels of a 7-inning, three run performance that also resulted in a win. After a handful of shaky performances when he first joined the Cubs, Feliz has allowed three runs or fewer in his last five starts. He improved his record to 12-6 for the year, dropping his ERA to 3.22.
Though the Cubs picked up 10 hits over 7 innings off Clay Bucholz, it was the longball that fueled their win. Prince Fielder continued his strong summer with a solo shot in the second, while Aaron Hicks bashed a two-run blast in the third.
The Cubs made two outs on the base paths, limited their chances to do offensive damage.
Besides Gamel, who has been one of the few players who provides consistent offense for Milwaukee, the lineup struggled against Feliz' stuff. Leadoff man Desmond Jennings say his average drop to .251, and is only 2-17 in his last four games against the Cubs.
With the leadoff man not getting on base, Milwaukee is having a tough time getting people on for its run producers.
Joey Devine picked up his 21st save, and his fourth in his last four appearances against the Brewers.
Questions for the GM's. For Garrett Cubbies, another week, another good start for Feliz. What has caused him to get on a roll?
Your lineup got hitters on base against the Brewers but didn't do much to get them in. What was the cause of that?
Finally, it seems that every time Prince Fielder plays on National Television, he's doing something big. He's now 6-14 with two home runs, 9 RBI's, one double and two runs scored. Why does Prince play so well on National Television (though not in the playoffs?)
For Brandon W, how frustrating is it to see leadoff man Desmond Jennings not get on base to jump start the offense?
You have Robert Stock in the clean up spot protecting Mat Gamel, but he's only hitting .259. What's your reasoning for batting him number four in the order?
Finally, the trade deadline is coming up soon. Can fans expect you to add a bat before July 31?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2011 12:24:57 GMT -5
Postgame WrapCubs 3 - Brewers 2For Brandon W, how frustrating is it to see leadoff man Desmond Jennings not get on base to jump start the offense?
Desmond is very puzzling this year has just can't seem to hit when it counts or at all with his .247 average. We have been batting him 1st against righties and 3rd against lefties and it seems he just can't cut it in the leadoff spot as he is doing alright against lefties at a .273 average. We don't have many options there at the leadoff spot so it's going to be a matter of can Desmond get it done? I have no plans to move him from the leadoff spot anytime soon. You have Robert Stock in the clean up spot protecting Mat Gamel, but he's only hitting .259. What's your reasoning for batting him number four in the order?To be honest I'm not sure why Stock hit in the clean-up spot, the manager must've been asleep at the wheel. But honestly if you look at the numbers Stock has had his best performances in the 4th and 5th spots of the lineup. Right now he is only catching against righties and will continue to hit in the 5th spot of the lineup where he is hitting .276 with 3HR and 14 RBI. With the limitied offense we have we are more or less playing the if it ain't broke don't fix it so we are trying not to move around the pieces who are playing well, such as Haydel and Escobar. Finally, the trade deadline is coming up soon. Can fans expect you to add a bat before July 31?We we are working all angles right now, I can't promise a bat will be added but there are some things that we are focusing on in order to make this club stronger. Adding a bat would be most likely at the cost of Miguel Ortiz, who is our top prospect and we are unsure we want to go that way unless we are completely sure we are getting our man. We have been in talks for a closer, lefty setup guy and a left fielder all from teams out west so we will see where everything leads but at this point no I wouldn't promise a bat to be added to the team. It's more likely we stand pat or add to our bullpen.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2011 12:38:43 GMT -5
Don't you just love those crappy in-game managers!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2011 12:49:56 GMT -5
Yes they're quite stellar...
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Post by Deleted on Jun 19, 2011 22:36:28 GMT -5
Cubbies, another week, another good start for Feliz. What has caused him to get on a roll?
Well I think he is just settling in is all. A lot was expected of him when we brought him to Chicago. I think I may have caused some extra undue pressure by making him are #1. Since moving him down to the #2 spot in our rotation and making Price are #1 everything has gelled nicely!
Your lineup got hitters on base against the Brewers but didn't do much to get them in. What was the cause of that?
I think the problem tonight was that are meat of the order was getting on base leaving the bottom half to try drive them in.....and they failed to do so. Big lack of execution on the part of McCann, Hewitt, and Navarro tonight! In a perfect world I really would rather not have Hicks leading off but its what we have and he is are best option. I really think he would be better in the 2 or 6 hole but after we traded Richardson we really don't have a better option. That being said all I really care about is the "W"! Would I like are team to score 12 every game.....hell yea but it just doesn't happen like that every night. The important thing is to find a way to win.
Finally, it seems that every time Prince Fielder plays on National Television, he's doing something big. He's now 6-14 with two home runs, 9 RBI's, one double and two runs scored. Why does Prince play so well on National Television (though not in the playoffs?)
I'm not sure...I'm hoping he just likes the pressure of winning in Chicago and can carry that over for us if we are lucky enough to make the postseason this year! Its no doubt he loves the spotlight though, now if he can translate that to the biggest stage for the Cubbies is yet to be seen.
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