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 I've been pondering now for two days about how I'm going to write this preview and I'll be honest with you....I'm still not sure. First of all, there is a ton of information out there about this series. Literally. If you printed out all the articles/posts/messages written about this series on the Internet you would be at exactly one ton. That being said, I'm not going to link to any of that crap. I just don't see the point. I know the Cubs, I know the Diamondbacks, I think I'm good with writing my own preview. You'll be the ultimate judge of that.
So, here we go. The Diamondbacks had the best record in the National League, although their run differential stats say they shouldn't even be in the playoffs and the Cubs had to grind their way into the playoffs. The Diamondbacks are a team filled with young, talented players and a few veterans, while the Cubs are a veteran team filled with a few young, talented players. You know what's at stake here, you know the players....now you get the preview....
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Keys to the Cubs winning the series: Carlos Zambrano has to be on his game, keeping the D-Backs from stealing hundreds of bases, don't let Eric Byrnes or Jeanne Zolasko beat you (I know I spelled it incorrectly), don't stare into the eyes of Randy Johnson, don't go swimming in the hotel pool until 30 minutes after you've eaten, stay away from rattlesnakes, talk about 'the curse' openly and honestly, Ted Lilly must throw strikes, Ryan Dempster must save at least one game, Carlos Marmol has to be Carlos Marmol, no injuries, Lou Piniella must remember to shave.
If the Cubs don't do any of those things....they lose
Keys to the Diamondbacks winning the series: Bartman (Part 2), refer to 'The Curse' as much as possible, playoff beards, hope Justin Upton becomes the next Andruw Jones, Brandon Webb reveals he actually has webbed feet, Jose Valverde doesn't turn into Antonio Alfonseca, Stephen Drew doesn't turn into J.D. Drew, Drew Carey doesn't ruin The Price is Right, speak about the time zone and how it effects everything in the world, somehow get Mark Grace to tell them the secret of finding Leprechauns, assassinate Bob Brenly
See, it's as simple as that folks.
 All joking aside, the Cubs need to get off to a good start in this series. They are the better team and the longer they let the Diamondbacks hang around, they better the chance the Diamondbacks have of winning. Big Z throws tonight and I firmly believe he's about to go on one of his tears (in a good way). Of course, every time I think that....he blows. Still, the most important person in this series is Ted Lilly. Game 2 is going to be extremely important, no matter if the Cubs win Game 1 or not. Game 2 will be needed to either tie up the series or to put the nail in the coffin of the D'Backs. On top of that, if the series goes five games, Lilly is slated to pitch Game 5 for the Cubs. So, let's hope he comes out throwing strikes on Thursday night.
As far as pitching rotations go, the Cubs rotation is much better than the Diamondbacks. The Diamondbacks may have the 2006 NL Cy Young winner in Brandon Webb, but they are missing the quality depth that the Cubs have. The Cubs need to pound Doug Davis in Game 2 and Livan Hernandez in Game 3. That's all there is to it. They are mediocre pitchers and need to be treated as such. The Cubs staff needs to throw strikes and be aware that the Diamondbacks like to steal bases. They can't afford to let them get on base with walks, especially to start an inning. If the Cubs throw strikes...they win. That's all there is to it. Also, the ninth batter in the Diamondbacks lineup is not an automatic out. Both Livan Hernandez and possible Game 4 starter Micah Owings are very good hitters.
 Offensively, what do you say? The Cubs have been hot in September, but they weren't hot the rest of the season. What can I expect? Well, in the past they've played decently in Arizona, so they don't have any stigmas to worry about there. It would help tremendously if they can score some early runs to give their pitchers a little breathing room. The key to the Cubs offense is going to be Derrek Lee. He needs to get on base consistently to force the Diamondbacks to make a decision on what to do with Aramis Ramirez. The more runners the Cubs have on for Ramirez, the better.
The Diamondbacks are scrappers, but their lead-off man, Chris Young, is not to be forgotten. He hit two absolute bombs against the Cubs at Wrigley earlier this season and will need to be kept in check. Eric Byrnes is their prime run producer in the middle of their order and that should tell you something. This is an offense that can be stopped and should be pressured. If they are allowed to hang around in games so that they can manufacture runs by bunts, steals and sacrifice flies....the Cubs will lose. If the Cubs pound the ball all over the place and force the Diamondbacks to come back from a multiple run deficit, like they should....the Cubs will win.
Onto the bullpens....It's going to be Wood, Marmol, Howry and Dempster for the Cubs. If anyone else throws for them in this series it's going to be because there is a blowout. We all know what these guys can do. I think the post-season is going to act as a fresh start for Dempster and he's going to be just fine. This will be the first post-season appearance for Marmol, so look for him to come out with some jitters initially. Wood and Howry have been around the block a couple of times, so they know what to do. The Diamondbacks have one of, if not the, best bullpens in the National League. They just don't mess around as their entire point in life is to get the ball to Jose Valverde, who has turned his career around this season. If it comes down to a one run ballgame, or where the Cubs need to make a comeback...it's going to be a struggle to win and it's probably not going to happen. Both bullpens are good, but I give the Diamondbacks the edge here.
 Here is some other random stuff you need to know....
- Geovony Soto is getting the start in Game 1 to help take care of the Diamondbacks running game. If he holds them in check, he'll probably start in Game 2 as well.
-Ryan Theriot is due to start 'peaking' again. He's gone up and down all season long and it's time for him to start back up that mountain.
-Soriano says his leg is 100% healthy. It wouldn't surprise me to see him stealing bases again starting tonight.
-The Cubs need to stay away from hitting into double plays against Webb and the Diamondbacks, so look for more hit & runs and stolen bases than usual. It's a necessity that they don't play that 'station to station' ball that they get into at times.
-The Cubs need to be very careful when the Diamondbacks send Tony Clark up to the plate to pinch hit as he's hit 17 home runs this season in limited action.
-Former Cub Juan Cruz is coming out of the bullpen for the Diamondbacks. When they bring him into the game the Cubs absolutely must have Daryle Ward ready and waiting because Cruz is going to slide that slider through the zone for a left handed power hitter to hit.
-Matt Murton needs to play a smart, aggressive right field because the Diamondbacks are going to be looking to take an extra base whenever they can. The same holds true for Jacque Jones in center field. Funny how I rarely worry about Jacque Jones anymore.
-The Cubs, and their relievers specifically, need to be very careful with Conor Jackson and Mark Reynolds. They are the big right-handed power hitters for the Diamondbacks and have been playing well of late.
Ok, onto the managers. We have Lou, they have Bob Melvin. I think Melvin is the Manager of the Year for the National League but he doesn't have the experience or the team that Piniella has. Lou has pushed all the right buttons so far this season and I expect the same in the playoffs. If the Cubs get a lead in a game, or this series, I think Lou will implore his team to finish off the Diamondbacks early....and I think that is what will happen.
Cubs in 4
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2008 Cubs Preview
good preview. didn't actually read it but it looked filled with good insights and pictures of the cubbies.
Who throws out the ceremonial first pitch at wrigley?
Here's my list of choices:
Ernie Banks
Dutchie Caray
Ryne Sandberg
Jim Belushi
Jim Belushi's wife on the show
Anyone born 99 years ago
Thanks for the compliment....even though you didn't read it.
It has to be Ernie Banks or Ron Santo
The only person that should really throw out the first pitch is: B-A-R-T-M-A-N
oh and Cubbies in 5, with Derosa coming up with some heroics. I can't believe I just typed that.
I think Bill Murray will dig up John Candy and they will throw out the pitch together.
That's a bit morbid GM....although a bit funny.
Bill Murray is one morbidly funny S-O-B!!
was John Belushi a cub fan or just Jim. We can have a threefer with Candy, Belushi and corpse of Chris Farley dressed as a Bears fan from SNL.
can anyone on the diamondbacks even grow a playoff beard. Last i saw stewie griffin was playing second
It burned the Cubs tonight having Soriano in the lead off spot. This is a rare case, but when Zambrano started the inning with a double, the lead off hitter should've been bunting there. If it was any other lead off hitter in the game, he would've been, and the double would've probably turned into a run.
Sometimes that might be true but it was a 0-0 ballgame and the Cubs were probably thinking big inning in that instance. I don't think Chris Young would have been bunting in that instance for the Dbacks
He should be. Ace vs. ace big innings rarely happen. Zambrano should've been bunting in the fifth too.
That's why you have to take advantage of them when you have the opportunity with your big bats coming up. Especially with Webb being a ground ball pitcher, it's hard to get a runner in from 3rd on a sac fly. It was early in the game, there was still time to take a chance. The Cubs thinking is that they have the offense to put up multiple runs, it just didn't happen. They played it right in that instance. Plus, Soriano has been on fire in September and you don't pay a guy that kind of money and take the bat out of his hand when he's just as likely to drive in the run.
That being said, Z should have been bunting because Soriano is the type of hitter to hit a fly ball, which he did end up doing.
I'm with you on Soriano. I'm not saying you bunt him in that situation, what I'm saying is that having him batting lead off might have cost the Cubs a run there, because if anyone else is leading off, he's probably bunted over to third.
Not bunting Zambrano was just plain dumb.