Scouting Report on todays starters from MLB.com
Ben Sheets – Sheets is winless in three starts since a complete-game win on Opening Day and has yet to find his strikeout groove — he has just 12 whiffs in 27 innings. Sheets pitched well against the Astros on Friday, striking out four and holding them to two runs in seven innings. He allowed five Cubs runs and nine hits over six innings in a loss at Miller Park on April 7, an outing that dropped his career mark against the Cubs to .500 (7-7).
Ted Lilly – Lilly deserves better. He’s given up seven runs over 26 innings so far for a 2.42 ERA. He’s struck out 16 in his last two games, and lost both. The lefty just needs a little run support. This will be his second game in his career against Milwaukee, and his first appearance was just two-thirds of an inning.
View the Cubs career numbers vs. Ben Sheets – ESPN Splits
Sam Fuld (AA) 3-5, (.500avg)
Josh Kroeger (AA) 4-4, 2B, (.411avg)
Joe Simokaitis (AA) 3-4, (.194avg)
Donald Veal (AA) 3.1IP, 6ER, 6H, 5BB, 5K, LOSS (10.57ERA)
Tyler Colvin (High-A) 1-4, 2B, (.308avg)
Jeff Samardzija (High-A) 5.1IP, 1ER, 5H, 3BB, 4K, LOSS (2.21ERA)
Update:
SS Theriot
LF Floyd
1B Lee
3B Ramirez
C Barrett
RF Jones
2B DeRosa
CF Pie
P Lilly
Now…Floyd gets the start in LF, because of the wet conditions, Lou doesn’t want to risk Soriano pulling his hamstring again. So the injury waiting to happen is in LF instead.
I am glad however, to see Theriot get the start at SS. One of the biggest spots yesterday was bases loaded with Izturis at the plate and 1 Away. Cedeno and Izturis are a combined 12 for 78. I don’t care how good your glove is, when you have TWO 2B both contributing, then you move 1 to SS.
Update: We’re in rain delay and this is reported from the Tribune. No big surprise:
By Paul Sullivan
Tribune staff reporter
April 25, 2007, 1:57 PM CDT
The Cubs announced Wednesday that Mark Prior’s 2007 season is over after shoulder surgery on Tuesday.
Prior underwent right shoulder arthroscopy by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala. Andrews cleaned up Prior’s right rotator cuff, tightened shoulder capsules and repaired the pitcher’s right labrum.
“Obviously he’s had some things wrong physically, and he’s getting them corrected,” manager Lou Piniella said. “So this is a step in the right direction.”
The Cubs said Prior began rehabbing the shoulder on Wednesday but would not pitch again in ’07.
