A double(blog)header: Soriano, Marshall and other stuff
Cubs left fielder Alfonso Soriano was angry after today's first game because Braves pitcher Francisley Bueno threw at Soriano's head in the ninth inning of today's 10-2 Cubs win in the first game of a day-night doubleheader. It was Bueno's major-league debut.
And Lou was none too happy with Soriano for failing to run out a ball Soriano hit to the wall in the eighth. Soriano apparently thought the ball would be a home run, so he stopped and admired it, ending up with a single. Although the Braves were mum on the subject, it appeared they were none too happy with Soriano admiring the drive. Bueno was kicked out of the game. The Braves hit Soriano on June 11, breaking his left hand and knocking him out for six weeks. They also threw at him last year, prompting Cubs lefty Ted Lilly to retaliate and get tossed in the first inning the next night.
"I talked to Alfonso about it," Lou said. "I told him that he's one of our leaders here and there's no need for that. He agrees and he says it won't happen again. It's over."
"I apologized to him, and I apologized to my teammates," Soriano said. "I said that's not going to happen again, and I apologized to him."
Soriano said it was scary seeing the ball coming at his head. He chalked it up to being "part of the game," but noted the Cubs have pitchers, too. Tonight's starter, Rich Harden, probably won't want to risk getting tossed early, but somebody on the Braves might wear one tonight or tomorrow.
"They like to do that," Soriano said. "It's part of the game. Nothing to do about it. It's part of the game, so we've got some pitchers who can throw to hitters, too. We take it like it's part of the game. I don't want to be fighting with somebody in the game because that's not me."
Jason Marquis started today and improved to 8-7 by working 5 1-3 innings and giving up 6 hits and 2 runs. Lou pulled him after he had thrown 93 pitches, saying it's still possible Marquis could come back on three days rest and pitch Sunday in Florida. But Lou also said Sean Marshall was the "logical" choice for Sunday. Before the game, Lou said Marshall, Marquis and Jeff Samardzija were candidates. Samardzija worked 2 scoreless innings today, throwing 29 pitches. Lou said he was "fine" and that he could still get the start.
The lineup
Soriano, LF
Theriot, SS
Lee, 1B
Ramirez, 3B
Edmonds, CF
DeRosa, 2B
Fukudome, RF
Blanco, C
Harden, P
Hoffpauir has to be on the roster by the 31st to be eligible for post season , yes? Via con dios Award'e, we hardly knew ye.. 4 for 40, lets see thats a .100 ba.
Good time for a mysterious injury to Ward.. "My black cat jumped out of the hottub, made me sneeze and throw out my back".. That should work it has before.
Remember, Soto and Hart came up after Aug. 31 last year and were on playoff roster. You get a pool from your 40-man and can designate. If you make a trade for a guy or pick up somebody after Aug. 31, as the Cubs did with Orlando Merced in 1998, I believe that guy wouldn't be eligible.
9 quality starts and 7 wins and will wind up with 200 innings thrown, not bad for a 5th starter. Sure he drives you crazy, but he had 3 games last year where he took a no hitter to the 5th.. The book on him, 80 pitches beyond...Bad...He has given his team a chance to win more than not, I'll take that.
So when does Hendry pull the trigger on Ward and get Hoffpauir up here ? Sure he may suck at the plate as well, but at least you can play him in the field..The Cubs are really playing with 24 1/2 guys.
Hoffpauir probably won't come up until Sept. 1. Ward is now 4-for-40 as a pinch hitter.
Nice to see Soriano admit his Venus De Milo pose was not what you should do, but if there is any consolation the venerable Pat Hughes commented that he was sure it was gone as well, no excuses, and of course Pat would never say anything bad about a player. And unlike Lou, Dust Bowl Baker wouldve had plenty of excuses for a $136 million dollar single.
It will be interesting to see how long Lou stays with Harden, the ball flies out of Turner Field at night, hopefully he can keep his pitch count down, I dont see him working past the 90 pitch level, which might tax the bullpen.
The Cubs need to do just exactly what they did in game one, get a quick lead...Aked and answered, thank you...
And maybe Ole Rain can tell me how many quality starts Marquis has this year, he just eats up innings, he may drive you nuts but as some how did OK. That leaves the Cubs with much more options, he is not a Trachsel...
Up 2 real quick, gotta love it...
He has 9 quality starts this year, even though today's didn't qualify as one.
Gave them what they needed. It was good to see. As for any possible bean balls, I could see at least one Brave getting plunked considering Soriano has been a target three times in two years. We'll see..
Hopefully Harden isn't hurt... That's seven men left on base for the Braves in three innings after being lights out.
Harden threw 92 pitches over 5 innings, and that, more than anything else, is probably why Lou took him out.