April 15th, 2010 Cubs vs. Brewers!

Today the Cubs are going for the series sweep of the Brewers. Zambrano and his 11.88 ERA are starting. He should be able to lower that today. Of course, he could give up a run an inning and still lower his ERA, so let’s not get too excited.

The game gets underway in about 25 minutes. In the meantime, I am listening to the Cardinal/Astros game. The MLB radio IPhone App is a godsend for working in a cubicle. Can someone explain to me why Ryan Ludwick is the Cardinals #2 hitter? It seems to me that Rasmus would be a much more suitable #2 hitter than Ludwick, but he’s hitting 5th. I’m trying to use Tony LaRussa’s logic (while trying to not end up at a stop light passed out with my foot on the brake) and can only assume he doesn’t want to put too much pressure on Rasmus right away by putting him in the 2 hole. I guess? Ever since Rick Ankiel had an emotional breakdown from starting Game 1 of the playoffs years ago, he has kind of handled young players with kid gloves. He started Garcia last Saturday instead of the original plan of starting him on Sunday when it was announced that Sunday’s game would be the game of the week on ESPN. I don’t know if the players are that fragile, but it worked. Anyway- Rasmus should be hitting 2nd and Ludwick hitting 5th. Or Felipe Lopez could hit 2nd. Anyone but Ludwick! I see that he is no longer hitting the pitcher 8th. Apparently that strategy only makes sense some years. Man I hate the Cardinals.

Also- it is quite a task to listen to Cardinals’ radio. I don’t know how you Cardinal fans do it (as if there are Cardinal fans reading this). Mike Shannon sounds like an uninterested grandfather with a raspy voice. I picture him sitting in a smoke filled lounge sipping scotch and annoyed that he has to explain to us what his happening on the field. I’m probably very biased, but how can you beat Pat Hughes? I could see where Ron Santo would annoy the crap out of you if you weren’t a Cubs fan. But the chemistry between Pat and Ron is so good. The image I have of Ron is one where he is sitting in a high chair in the booth eating blue jello out of a little container, wearing a Cubs bib, holding his spoon in one hand and his Cubs rattle in the other. Pat is there to interpret Ron’s outbursts.

Ok, the game is about to start. My prediction:

Zambrano- 8 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 3 BB, 7 K’s

I think Aramis is going to have a good day today: 3 for 4, HR, 2B, 3 RBI’s

Cubs win, 6-3

-John Mark