Can I please ask why you guys feel like the Cubs are going to win this series? Here's a breakdown of the numbers and someone point out where the Cubs have the advantage...
SPs
Game 1: Zambrano vs. Webb
Carlos career vs Arizona - 1-2, 4.88, 24 IP
Carlos career @ Arizona - 1-2, 4.88, 24 IP
Carlos career @ night - 37-21, 3.32
Brandon career vs. Cubs - 4-1, 2.53, 42.2 IP
Brandon career @ Arizona - 34-21, 3.21, 533.1 IP
Brandon career @ night - 51-43, 3.15
Game 2: Lilly vs. Davis
Ted career vs Arizona - 0-2, 3.38, 16 IP
Ted career @ Arizona - 0-1, 3.00, 6 IP
Ted career @ night - 54-45, 4.33
Doug career vs. Cubs - 7-5, 3.39, 85 IP
Doug career @ Arizona - 8-3, 4.27, 111.2 IP
Doug career @ night - 53-50, 4.40
Game 3: Hernandez @ Hill
Livan career vs Cubs - 10-6, 4.02, 127.2 IP
Livan career @ Chicago (N) - 4-3, 2.92, 64.2 IP
Ted career @ night - 87-79, 4.17
Rich career vs. Arizona - 1-1, 4.12, 24 IP
Rich career @ Cubs - 10-5, 4.04
Rich career @ night - 9-12, 4.72
Just so everyone knows, all 3 games will be played in the evening (7PM local time for games 1 and 2, 5PM for game 3). Looking at those numbers, you have to give the decisive edge to Webb and Hernandez and the middle matchup is very even.
Jason Kendall vs. Byrnes/Young/Hudson/Drew
With Jason Kendall most likely starting for the Cubs behind the plate, you know the BabyBax will be running every chance they get. Since joining the Cubs, Kendall has thrown out 5 out of a possible 57 base-runners! That is a pathetic 9% of would-be basestealers making it to the next base. Combine that with Eric Byrnes being 50/57 (88%), Chris Young being 27/33 (82%), Orlando Hudson being 10/12 (83%), and Stephen Drew being 9/9 (100%), you know Bob Melvin will be sending these four guys every time their on-base and the next bag is unoccupied.
HR OR BUST CUBS VS. DIFFERENT DAY, DIFFERENT GUY D'BAX
Anyone following both these two teams closely can easily agree with the following two statements; 1) if the ball is flying out of the park because of the Cubs' bats, they'll win, if they don't hit it over the fence, they'll lose. 2) the Diamondbacks don't rely on one or two guys, that whole team, including the bench, has been involved in almost every game. Hence the motto, "Different Day, Different Guy". You never want to bet on the one-trick pony. As basketball fans say about 3-point heavy teams, "you live by the 3, you die by the 3", the same can be said about the Cubs, "you live by the HR, you die by the HR". It should be noted that the D'Bax do have more HRs than the Cubs, but they also have more wins and less runs scored than their opponents meaning they make the most of every hit, HR, walk, etc., and squeak out wins anyway they can.
Other Key Stats
1-Run Game Records:
Arizona - 32-20
Chicago - 23-22
Home Records:
Arizona - 50-31
Chicago - 44-37
Head-to-Head in '07:
Arizona, 4-2
Both teams scored 19 runs each
Cubs vs. Webb in '07:
5/26, 3 R, 1 BB, 4 K
D'Bax vs. Zambrano in '07:
N/A
Cubs vs. Davis in '07:
6/26, 1 R, 1 BB, 8 K
D'Bax vs. Lilly in '07:
4/21, 2 R, 0 BB, 8 K
Cubs vs. Hernandez in '07:
N/A
D'Bax vs. Hill in '07:
6/24, 2 R, 4 BB, 6 K
D'Bax vs. Marmol in '07:
3/15, 2 R, 3 BB, 6 K, 1 HR
Cubs vs. Valverde in '07:
3/14, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K
D'Bax vs. Howry in '07:
3/15, 1 R, 1 BB, 8 K, 1 HR
I really don't see how the Cubs are the favorite here. Not to mention on top of most of this, the D'Bax have homefield advantage although there will be a lot of Cub fans in Arizona.
SPs
Game 1: Zambrano vs. Webb
Carlos career vs Arizona - 1-2, 4.88, 24 IP
Carlos career @ Arizona - 1-2, 4.88, 24 IP
Carlos career @ night - 37-21, 3.32
Brandon career vs. Cubs - 4-1, 2.53, 42.2 IP
Brandon career @ Arizona - 34-21, 3.21, 533.1 IP
Brandon career @ night - 51-43, 3.15
Game 2: Lilly vs. Davis
Ted career vs Arizona - 0-2, 3.38, 16 IP
Ted career @ Arizona - 0-1, 3.00, 6 IP
Ted career @ night - 54-45, 4.33
Doug career vs. Cubs - 7-5, 3.39, 85 IP
Doug career @ Arizona - 8-3, 4.27, 111.2 IP
Doug career @ night - 53-50, 4.40
Game 3: Hernandez @ Hill
Livan career vs Cubs - 10-6, 4.02, 127.2 IP
Livan career @ Chicago (N) - 4-3, 2.92, 64.2 IP
Ted career @ night - 87-79, 4.17
Rich career vs. Arizona - 1-1, 4.12, 24 IP
Rich career @ Cubs - 10-5, 4.04
Rich career @ night - 9-12, 4.72
Just so everyone knows, all 3 games will be played in the evening (7PM local time for games 1 and 2, 5PM for game 3). Looking at those numbers, you have to give the decisive edge to Webb and Hernandez and the middle matchup is very even.
Jason Kendall vs. Byrnes/Young/Hudson/Drew
With Jason Kendall most likely starting for the Cubs behind the plate, you know the BabyBax will be running every chance they get. Since joining the Cubs, Kendall has thrown out 5 out of a possible 57 base-runners! That is a pathetic 9% of would-be basestealers making it to the next base. Combine that with Eric Byrnes being 50/57 (88%), Chris Young being 27/33 (82%), Orlando Hudson being 10/12 (83%), and Stephen Drew being 9/9 (100%), you know Bob Melvin will be sending these four guys every time their on-base and the next bag is unoccupied.
HR OR BUST CUBS VS. DIFFERENT DAY, DIFFERENT GUY D'BAX
Anyone following both these two teams closely can easily agree with the following two statements; 1) if the ball is flying out of the park because of the Cubs' bats, they'll win, if they don't hit it over the fence, they'll lose. 2) the Diamondbacks don't rely on one or two guys, that whole team, including the bench, has been involved in almost every game. Hence the motto, "Different Day, Different Guy". You never want to bet on the one-trick pony. As basketball fans say about 3-point heavy teams, "you live by the 3, you die by the 3", the same can be said about the Cubs, "you live by the HR, you die by the HR". It should be noted that the D'Bax do have more HRs than the Cubs, but they also have more wins and less runs scored than their opponents meaning they make the most of every hit, HR, walk, etc., and squeak out wins anyway they can.
Other Key Stats
1-Run Game Records:
Arizona - 32-20
Chicago - 23-22
Home Records:
Arizona - 50-31
Chicago - 44-37
Head-to-Head in '07:
Arizona, 4-2
Both teams scored 19 runs each
Cubs vs. Webb in '07:
5/26, 3 R, 1 BB, 4 K
D'Bax vs. Zambrano in '07:
N/A
Cubs vs. Davis in '07:
6/26, 1 R, 1 BB, 8 K
D'Bax vs. Lilly in '07:
4/21, 2 R, 0 BB, 8 K
Cubs vs. Hernandez in '07:
N/A
D'Bax vs. Hill in '07:
6/24, 2 R, 4 BB, 6 K
D'Bax vs. Marmol in '07:
3/15, 2 R, 3 BB, 6 K, 1 HR
Cubs vs. Valverde in '07:
3/14, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K
D'Bax vs. Howry in '07:
3/15, 1 R, 1 BB, 8 K, 1 HR
I really don't see how the Cubs are the favorite here. Not to mention on top of most of this, the D'Bax have homefield advantage although there will be a lot of Cub fans in Arizona.
I got a few reasons why i like the cubs
1 Dbacks are last in N.L in hitting 251 as a team
2 Dbacks are near last in R.B.I's as a team
3 Cubs pitchers lead the M.L in strikeouts
The playoffs are all bout getting the clutch hit.And with the stats iam seeing not sure i would put my money on Dbacks
1 Dbacks are last in N.L in hitting 251 as a team
2 Dbacks are near last in R.B.I's as a team
3 Cubs pitchers lead the M.L in strikeouts
The playoffs are all bout getting the clutch hit.And with the stats iam seeing not sure i would put my money on Dbacks
The Cubs went 4-2 against the D-bags this year and that was without a start from Carlos Zambrano. I can imagine he would have came up with a win or put them in a situation to win.
Jason Kendall will not be starting the first game. It will come to Geo Soto and he is a little better defensively. The D-bags are last in hitting. PERIOD. This base-running nonsense that you are speaking of will only hurt the Cubs if they are getting on base a lot. Granite if they get on base they might steal, but the rareity of the D-Bags knocking in runners is severe.
Good luck to you sir. As for me, I'm standing by my Cubs and am laying a large amount on the boys from the Windy City.
