June 2 Game Preview: Chicago Cubs VS Atlanta Braves

Tuesday, June 2, 2009: Chicago Cubs @ ATL

Game Info:

Records: Cubs 25-24 (4th in NL Central), Braves 25-25 (3rd in the NL East)
Pitching Matchup: Randy Wells (0-2, 1.80 ERA) VS Kenshin Kawakami (3-6, 4.73 ERA)
First Pitch: 6:05 PM CT
Stadium: Turner Field in Atlanta
TV: WGN 9

Series Info:

This Series: Game 1 of 3
Season Series: Game 1 of 6
All-Time Series (since 1900): Cubs 1021, Braves 843

Kawakami VS Cubs Hitters:
Rookie, has not faced Cubs.

Wells VS Braves Hitters:
Never faced Braves.

Weather:
Current Temp.- 89 degrees!
Chance of Rain- 0%

Latest Cubs Info:

• Alfonso Soriano and Kosuke Fukudome are leading the team in fan all star voting.
• Ted Lilly, Ryan Dempster, and trainer Mark O'Neal hosted 60 kids at Wrigley on Sunday, part of the PLAY campaign to talk about the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
• Steve Rosenbloom of the Chicago Tribune thinks that Jim Hendry picked the wrong guy when they signed Milton Bradley last winter.
• The Cubs are starting to shop for a power bat and a top of the rotation pitcher according to Hot Stove Cubbies.
• The off day yesterday came at the right time for Cubs pitchers.
• Alfonso Soriano wants to keep playing even though he has a injury to his left knee that is holding him back. We'll see if he's in there tonight.
• Will Reed Johnson start tonight? Lou said, "Reed Johnson has been playing well, we'll see what to do, obviously he's made a statement."

Injury Report:

• Aramis Ramirez might have to have shoulder surgery during the off season. He's working to get his strength back and hopes he won't need surgery.
• Rich Harden will throw a side session today before the game. He hopes to do a simulated game over the weekend in Cincinnati.

Minor League Report:

• Iowa Cubs: @Nashville at 7pm CT. Esmailin Caridad will pitch.
• Tennessee Smokies: @Carolina at 6:15 PM CT.
• Daytona Cubs: VS Sarasota at 6:05 CT.
• Peoria Chiefs: VS Beloit at 7:00 CT

Radio Recap:

Todd Hollandsworth talked about the Cubs on Waddle and Silvy on ESPN 1000 yesterday:

• Todd said that going into the weekend series, this was a good measuring stick for the Cubs going against a similar team in the Dodgers, who are very good.
• The Dodgers get it done by stealing bases, being creative, hitting behind runners, and hitting in front of runners.
• LA is without Manny Ramirez as the Cubs are without Aramis Ramirez.
• Hollandsworth doesn't think you can take anything from this series.
• Todd has heard a lot of guys on the team saying "When we get this guy back we're going to be better." "When we get that guy back we're going to be better." The Cubs need to take responsibility and lead the team out of this slump, instead of looking for people to come back according to Silvy and Todd.
• The one thing that this team is lacking is consistency.
• He points out that "championship caliber teams weather the storm when they lose somebody."
• Do the Cubs have the pieces to do it? Todd thinks so, but he wonders when the run is going to come.
• Derrek Lee has lost some of his power since the wrist injury. Todd doesn't think Derrek is a guy who carries a team. He is suffering from inconsistency.
• The Cubs had a good matchup in there favor on Sunday coming off a big win Saturday. Hollandsworth says that Sunday's loss shows this teams "vulnerability".

Bruce Levine also joined Waddle and Silvy yesterday:

• The problem with the Cubs is run production.
• Lee and Bradley don't have that power stroke any more. Where is the run production going to come from?
• Bruce says that guys like Bobby Scales and Jake Fox are not the answers to this team winning the division.
• Geovany Soto needs to produce.
• People in LA are asking the same questions about Martin as the Cubs are about Soto.
• Jim Hendry can make trades all day long, but he cannot add money.
• Nobody knows at this point when the sale is going to be done. Now we are not even sure the Rickets Family are going to be the buyers of the team.
• Levine agrees with Tom and Mark that Soriano could take a few games off with his struggling knee and Kosuke and Johnson have been hitting well.
• Lou hesitates to sit Alfonso down because he needs run production.

Cubbie Birthdays:

Lee Gregory (71)

Steve Rain (34)

This Date in Cubs History:

2003- The Cubs edge the Devil Ray‚ 3-2‚ but the headline news is Sammy. Sosa is ejected from the game in the 1st inning after apparently driving in a run with a broken-bat ground out. Inspection of the bat reveals it to have cork inside and the run is disallowed.

2001- The red-hot Cubs push their winning streak to 12 games‚ beating Milwaukee‚ 10-4. Matt Stairs hits a 3-run homer‚ while Sosa and Rondell White add 2-run shots‚ all off Paul Rigdon. Frank Tapani is the winning pitcher. The streak is the longest by the Cubbies since they won 15 in 1936. The streak ends tomorrow.

2000- The Cubs defeat the Tigers‚ 2-0‚ as Rick Aguilera picks up the 300th save of his career.

1961- The Cubs Ernie Banks ties a ML record with 3 run-scoring sacrifice flies in one game. Chicago beats the Reds 7-6.

Cubs Starting Lineup:

• 1. Soriano, LF
• 2. Theriot, SS
• 3. Kosuke, CF
• 4. Lee, 1B
• 5. Bradley, RF
• 6. Fontenot, 3B
• 7. Soto, C
• 8. Blanco, 2B
• 9. Wells, P

"I don't care who wins... as long as it's the Cubs!"