Tribune Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo
We've all been waiting for
Derrek Lee to show up, and Tuesday night he did. He accounted for all three RBI and fell two triples short of a cycle and an extra triple.
As for Lee, his 3-for-3 night, which included a walk,
bumped his batting average from .218 to .231. For his career, Lee is a
.317 hitter in June, but he wasn't ready to proclaim himself in a groove
yet.
"I don't know; it was one night," he said. "It's a good
night. Hopefully it's a start. I've had a lot of slow starts in my
career. I wish I understood why. Hopefully I do heat up and start to
help this team. It felt good to have a game and contribute to a win."
As for the pitching, DY-NO-MITE!
Dempster saved his best for the middle to later innings
after throwing a total of 48 pitches over the first 3, stranding two
runners in the first.
He gave up singles to Manny Ramirez and Casey Blake in
the fourth but struck out Xavier Paul to end the inning. After that, he
allowed nothing.
"I felt early on I wasn't (hitting) the strike zone as
much as I would have like to," Dempster said. "Afterward, I just tried
to execute pitches and get ahead as much as possible."
Big Z is rotation ready after Monday's simulated game.
Zambrano, the opening-day starter who was exiled to the
bullpen late last month, pitched a simulated game Monday, throwing 73
pitches.
Manager Lou Piniella said Tuesday that Zambrano would be
available for "short" bullpen duty Thursday before going back into the
rotation, most likely in Pittsburgh next week.
"He threw the ball very easy," Piniella said. "He used
all his pitches. He's ready to go. Velocity was good. He worked on his
split-finger, on his breaking ball, using his cutter. He had a nice
workout."
As for the bullpen situation, Lou's not tipping his hand. But there's a possibility that we could see another prospect in the next week or so.
Don't be surprised to see top pitching prospect Andrew Cashner
or another highly regarded prospect, such as Jay Jackson, get a
call to the Cubs' bullpen as the staff shifts over the next week or two
and the thin pen continues to evolve.
The bullpen, which added veteran Bob Howry on Friday and loses
Carlos Zambrano to the rotation next week, entered Tuesday
night's game ranked 25th in the majors with a 4.81 ERA and had blown six
of 15 save chances.
Cashner, the Cubs' first-round draft pick in 2008, has dominated in the
Class AAA rotation since his recent promotion. His fastball has been
consistently in the upper-90s, but Cubs officials aren't ruling out a
major-league debut in the bullpen.
And Aramis Ramirez might sit out again today.
The slumping Ramirez, who was already scheduled to get Tuesday and
possibly today off, still is bothered by swelling near the base of his
left thumb. While the Cubs haven't considered putting him on the
disabled list, that could change if the problem persists, the team said.
105 Comments
gravedigger said:
Julie, quit teasing and give us your news already.
Edelweiss said:
I can't help, either. Nothing happened in the clubhouse for the past few days. Even the guy with the Dickball video is out of town.
gravedigger said:
What should today's Lost discussion entail?
oog of ulams said:
All the staring, shaking with anger, and saying "don't" that characterized every interaction on the show?
plamorte said:
wow the star of that picture is most certainly Marmol!
AndCounting said:
It looks like a screen cap from last night's episode of Glee.
gravedigger said:
I watched that show for the first time ever last night and it was retarded.
AndCounting said:
I actually didn't watch last night's, but the comment seemed to lack flair without recency. I know it was the Gaga-centric episode, so I wasn't super excited. But all of this is a very casual lead-in to my point, which is: you're wrong.
Maim said:
I think Glee is just okay, but I still DVR it. But Glee without Sue Sylvester? Boooo.
JulieDiCaro said:
I've tried to get into Glee, but I just . . don't.
gravedigger said:
I enjoy shows that make me think, which is why I was such a fan of lost. I KNEW I could bring it back around to Lost!
Doc said:
I still don't really know what Glee is.
Teebob2000 said:
Wait - we still talking about the TV show or life in general?
Doc said:
I suppose both.
gravedigger said:
Whut?
plamorte said:
i too watched about 15 min of it last night and didn't really enjoy it, not for me I guess
AndCounting said:
It's very over the top. Everything is exaggerated for comedic and dramatic effect. It's almost like if a Christopher Guest movie were rigorously scripted, set to music, and slathered in fabulous.
gravedigger said:
I guess I just don't like stupid TV shows.
AndCounting said:
Then this is where we part ways. Stupid TV shows are awesome.
flyball said:
agreed
Carl Heartscubs Gierhan said:
You're wrong.
JulieDiCaro said:
no. it's whoever is sitting next to him that curled up like a 5-year old girl shrimp.
gravedigger said:
It is 90 degrees and sunny today and my boss is not in. Should I sneak out?
flyball said:
you should do my work so I can sneak out
gravedigger said:
I think that's the worst idea I ever heard.
flyball said:
its an excellent idea, I'm really proud that I came up with it
JulieDiCaro said:
i'm still debating if I should get off my bed and move to my "office" or just stay here.
Doc said:
I debate that every single day...but the consequences of not going to my office are much more severe.
JulieDiCaro said:
my office is next to my bed and currently a dog with terrible gas is sleeping in there.
Doc said:
Mine is 14 miles away...but I still think there are creatures with gas problems there.
Edelweiss said:
At least Cubs players with gas problems have creative ways to let it out.
Edelweiss said:
Are you sure it isn't Jeff Baker? If it is, hide your candles.
Eric From The Dugs said:
I'm looking at this picture on the "From Around Chicagonow" bar and I'm wondering just what in the hell Slider, the Indians mascot, is supposed to be. Right now, it kind of looks like Telly from Sesame Street went cannibal on Big Bird.
LostinFla said:
I'm really hoping Julie's news involves a bat, Lou and a pinata, but that's probably too much to ask. David Caruso would work in place of Lou too.
JulieDiCaro said:
okay, you guys are setting the bar for the "news" WAY too high. it's not Cubs-related, either. it's personal.
gravedigger said:
If it doesn't involve an elephant, I don't want to hear about it.
Doc said:
Actually, I was thinking that if it DOES involve an elephant, I don't want to know about it.
Edelweiss said:
Julie is preganat by an elephant?
flyball said:
are you repainting the kitchen? because avocado green is not "in" right now
speaking of which I know people who got to buy Blackhawks Red at the paint department, its so wrong that I'm jealous
Doc said:
I'm guessing that Julie is going to be taking over for Oprah when she retires next year. That's it, right?
JulieDiCaro said:
ha--metsgrrl totally wants us to try out for that. maybe oprah will give us a sports talk show?
Doc said:
We work real closely with Harpo Studios...I could try to put in a good word for you and MetsGrrl. Of course, Harpo is a real pain in the neck for us, so I might actually not want you to work for her.
gravedigger said:
OMG you're going to give me $10,000 -- that's the news, isn't it? THANKS JULIE!!!!! :D
gravedigger said:
Colin is engaged?
Edelweiss said:
Maybe Colin has the hots for you.
gravedigger said:
Max made partner?
JulieDiCaro said:
Mad DID make partner, but that was back in January!
gravedigger said:
Oh, that's right, how the hell could I forget?
gravedigger said:
You bought a new house with a big pool?
Edelweiss said:
You have adopted Starlin Castro as a boy-toy?
gravedigger said:
You bought one of those sweet new convertible infinities?
gravedigger said:
You just secured Gov. Blagojevich as a client?
gravedigger said:
You won the Powerball?
Doc said:
I'm fairly sure if she won the powerball, she wouldn't bother telling us. Julie would just disappear and buy some new friends.
gravedigger said:
Your dog is pregnant?
Edelweiss said:
Ryan Theriot got your dog pregnant?
gravedigger said:
You were cast as Dorothy in your local production of Wizard of Oz?
Doc said:
I'm going with this one.
gravedigger said:
You sold your book to a publisher?
gravedigger said:
Jacob visited you and touched your shoulder?
gravedigger said:
Julie, I just realized I know entirely too much about you, and it kinda creeped me out, so I'm going to stop guessing now.
JulieDiCaro said:
I think we all feel the same.
Doc said:
So we've won like a billion of the last billion and 2 games...so are we in first place yet?
gravedigger said:
The Cubs are 7-3 in their last 10 games, which is admittedly better than I thought they'd be in any 10-game stretch this season.
They still suck.
Doc said:
Oh...so they're not in first place.
flyball said:
only in my heart
well, you know after my family, and my friends (at least most of them) and maybe chocolate, but up there anyhow
Doc said:
I'm fairly sure I would put red Starbursts ahead of the Cubs right now too.
gravedigger said:
I prefer the pink ones.
Doc said:
I actually like the tropical fruit ones more...but overall, Starbursts are pretty awesome.
flyball said:
speaking of which, Julie did you know you can get vegan Starburst in the UK?
just a fun fact of the day
JulieDiCaro said:
I didn't know that. now if they could just come out with a vegan Flake bar, i'd be all set.
Doc said:
Do they make vegan italian beef sandwiches anywhere? Because if they do, and they taste halfway decent...I could probably become a vegan too.
Edelweiss said:
How about vegan ribs?
AndCounting said:
I find Starbursts too sticky for my teeth, but I've got sensitive choppers. I do, however, think Starburst Jelly Beans are the greatest thing ever concocted by man or angels.
JulieDiCaro said:
no, that would be white chocolate, followed by the teeny tiny chewy sweet tarts.
Edelweiss said:
I like the green ones. They remind me of Gravedigger.
jarowcliffe said:
did you know you can buy a bag of only red starbursts?? it was one of the greatest days of my life!
JulieDiCaro said:
OMG: HAPPY BIRTHDAY FLYBALL!!!!!!!!!!
plamorte said:
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
MAY IS STACKED! ME, FLYBALL, DOC!
AndCounting said:
And me!!!!!!ONE
Doc said:
Yeah...three days in a row...and I have a friend who had a birthday on Monday and on who has one on Friday too. Quite a week.
AndCounting said:
Oh, but this is flyball's day. Happy birthday!!
flyball said:
today is a heavy birthday day, I know at least 5 other people who I share it with including a couple of really good friends
I used to not like it, but now I love it, it means we get the really big birthday cake
Doc said:
I have a friend at work with birthday today as well...I forgot...need to congratulate him on making it another year.
Umbra said:
Happy birthday!
gravedigger said:
That had better not be the big news.
gravedigger said:
Oh yeah, and happy celebration of the day of your birth flyball.
Doc said:
Happy Birthday, Flyball!
baturkey said:
Happy birthday!
Carl Heartscubs Gierhan said:
Happy Birthday! Sorry I didn't put a creepy cake picture in the headlines thread.
gravedigger said:
I really haven't been paying attention. Not only are the Rays a good team again this year, they're the best team in baseball. By kind of a huge margin.
Doc said:
They should still be contracted.
flyball said:
how great would a post season minus the Yankees and Red Sox be?
really awesome is the correct answer
gravedigger said:
i might actually watch some of it if that were the case.
secdelahc said:
Happy birthday flyball! I hope that you have a pleasant evening filled with yummy dessert, beer and Cubs baseball!
JulieDiCaro said:
I think the real Thom Brenneman just commented on me making fun of him and the Reds on Twitter last night. Ha.
sloan peterson said:
3 guesses re the big news:
1. Cubbiejulie will be on the fall season of The Apprentice.
2.Cubbiejulie has been hired by the Tribune to take the place of any one of the current hacks in the sports department.
3. Larry Rothchild is being replaced as pitching coach by Maddox.(I can hope, right?)
JulieDiCaro said:
No Cubs game with docblume for me tonight. Boo.
Doc said:
:(
I'll drink enough for both of us.
JulieDiCaro said:
It's sunny but thundering at my house.
jarowcliffe said:
its sunny but thundering in my mind waiting for this big news!
gravedigger said:
That phenomenon has a funny name in the south that I can't remember right now. Anybody know what it is?
Edelweiss said:
In Mississippi, when it is raining, but the sun is out, they call it the monkey's birthday.
Doc said:
So you are saying I should bring both sunscreen and an umbrella to the game tonight? (and maybe a lightning rod?)
JulieDiCaro said:
Help! I'm in need of help with the game thread!
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