I'm a ChiSox fan, but here's why you bet the Cubs on Thurs...

Ramonskee · Sep 13, 2007

I still think they suck and are the biggest underacheivers in the NL this year, but the Cubs will get it done tonight (Thursday). There are many reasons why I say this including...
1) Woody Williams sucks
2) Steve Trachsel will have a lot to prove after his horrible outting last time out (like is he worthy of starting a playoff game if these guys make it?)
3) All the momentum is with the Cubs right now after they nearly blew Wednesday night's game but lived to tell about it. Just watch the celebrations by Dempster, Derosa, Lee, Pineilla, and co.
4) If it wasn't before, the pulse of the Astros is now gone after having a runner on 3rd with NO OUTS in a 1-run game and not being able to get him in.

....but the main reason I'm very confident the Cubs will win on Thursday...

5) With Ryan Dempster having pitched 3 innings in the last two games and being a decisive figure in both games (and not to mention he is emotionally drained right now), he will probably get the night off. And with Carlos Marmol having the day off on Wednesday, he will most likely be brought in a save situation and may even be brought in for 8th and 9th considering Bob Howry has pitched in the last few games also. I think all of us would be much more comfortable with our money in Marmol's hands rather than Dempster's.

Sprinky · Sep 13, 2007

A simple 'good luck' is all I can wish you when you wager on this team.

FairWarning · Sep 13, 2007

Or you can take the over.

Ramonskee · Sep 13, 2007

FairWarning said:
Or you can take the over.

You'd want to risk your money on these two offenses? Don't get me wrong, they can explode for 20 runs combined, but they just look bad (both offenses).

BrashL · Sep 13, 2007

Plus the Cubs NEVER seem to score any runs in Houston

Ramonskee · Sep 13, 2007

Hope everyone cashed.
Cubs offense came out swinging w/ 4 runs in the first.
Trachsel didn't give up a lot of runs (2) but didn't pitch all that well (10 base runners in 5 IP) either.
Marmol pitched the 8th and 9th, as I said :suomi:

, and he did a great job (0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K).

The over didn't hit either as I anticipated one, if not both, of these two teams not scoring much.

prodigy · Sep 14, 2007

why marmol isnt closing is beyond me. managers feel like they 'owe' something to veterans and it leads them to give games away that they have no business losing.

5starbomb · Sep 14, 2007

prodigy said:
why marmol isnt closing is beyond me. managers feel like they 'owe' something to veterans and it leads them to give games away that they have no business losing.

Marmol is the future closer, but I like where he is in the bullpen. Holds are just as important if not more important than saves. Marmol is huge for us in the 6-8 innings depending on how long the sp goes. Marmol has been the teams MVP in the 2nd half imo. Dempster also hasnt been as bad as everyone thinks. I am not extremely confident in Demp as I am in Marmol but I like the way the Cubs bullpen is set up with marmol,howry,demp

Ramonskee · Sep 14, 2007

The reason Dempster is still the closer, IMO, is a little complex yet simple at the sametime. If you take Dempster out of the closer's role, a role he still thinks he owns and deserves, he will completely lose confidence in himself and chances are he will become useless. Even worse, as the Cubs witnessed w/ LaTroy Hawkins a few years ago, a pitcher maybe an amazing setup man but a piss poor closer. So what do you do when Dempster's confidence is shot AND Marmol completely fails under the pressure of being a pennant contender's closer? You lose two arms that you so heavily relied on. Howry can be used as the closer also but again, Dempster's role has to be the closer in order for him to be fully effective. I also think Marmol should be the closer before Dempster blows another one, but when you look at the big picture, you need to stick with Dempster until he blows another game or two.