Oh, to be at Wrigley Field today as THE premiere interleague confrontation kicks off today, the AL Central leading White Sox (does anybody call them Pale Hose anymore) vs. the NL Central leading Cubbies, sweet Lou Piniella vs. crazy Ozzie Guillen, Derrek Lee vs. Jim Thome, and both sides sporting new stars too, left fielder Carlos Quentin for the Sox and at least two for the Cubs in Japanese import Kosuke Fukudome in right field and Geovany Soto behind the plate.
Anyone who's ever been to Chicago on a Friday afternoon and had the opportunity to sit in the Wrigley bleachers, tall one in hand and looking across at the brickwork and down to the vines, can appreciate the enormity of this occasion, with both teams in first place and Chicago bragging rights on the line.
And both teams seem loaded with talent this year, the Cubs with old reliables Derrek Lee at first base and Aramis Ramirez at third, newcomers Soto and Fukudome and some good players at every position, Ryan Theriot at shortstop and Mark DeRosa at second. Reed Johnson will cover for Alfonso Soriano, who broke his finger and Jim Edmonds, newly imported from the Padres manning centerfield.
The White Sox have less balance, I think, but do have their stars in Jermaine Dye in right, Quentin in left and Joe Crede at third base. And while the Cubs will be handicapped without Soriano, the White Sox will be similarly hampered by the absence of Paulie Konerko at first base. Old pros Orlando Cabrera and Juan Uribe man the middle-infield, although Uribe has had trouble unseating newcomer Alexei Ramirez at second base. Powerful Jim Thome is the designated hitter and Nick Swisher is at first base.
Pitching is strong on both sides, both at the starting positions and in relief. For the Cubbies, Carlos Zambrano is followed in the starting rotation by Ted Lilly, Ryan Dempster, Jason Marquis and impressive rookie Sean Gallagher. The White Sox are at least as impressive with Mark Buehrle their ace followed by Jacinto Vasquez, John Danks, Jose Contreras and Gavin Floyd.
The Cubs have the edge in relief as well with Kerry Wood closing and Carlos Marmol getting him the ball. Marmol had been especially reliable until just last night, when he walked two and hit two batters, got taken out of the game only to watch Scott Eyre give up a grand slam home run. The Sox counter with the big guy, Bobby Jenks as the closer and either Octovio Dotel or Scott Linebrink getting them to Wood.
Here’s how I see the matchup: CAPS indicate a significant edge – small letters slight
Left field – Cubs Reed Johnson vs Sox Carlos Quentin – Advantage Quentin – SOX
Centerfield – Cubs Jim Emonds vs Sox Brian Anderson – Advantage Edmonds-Cubs
Right field – Cubs Fukudome vs Sox Jermaine Dye - EVEN
3rd base – Cubs Ramirez vs Sox Crede - Advantage Ramirez –Cubs
Shortstop – Cubs Theriot vs Sox Cabrera EVEN
2nd base – Cubs DeRosa vs Sox Uribe EVEN
1st base – Cubs Lee vs Sox Swisher Advantage Lee – Cubs
Catcher – Cubs Soto vs Sox Pierzynski - Advantage Soto – Cubs
DH – Cubs (no DH) vs Sox Jim Thome Advantage Thome – SOX
Starting Pitching:
Cubs Zambrano – Sox Buehrle Advantage CUBS
Cubs Lilly – Sox Vasquez Advantage SOX
Cubs Dempster – Sox Danks EVEN
Cubs Marquis – Sox Contreras Advantage SOX
Cubs Gallagher – Sox Gavin Floyd Advantage Sox
Closer:
Cubs Wood – Sox Jenks EVEN
Setup:
Cubs Marmol – Sox Dotel Advantage CUBS
Managers:
Cubs Piniella vs Sox Guillen EVEN
So the Cubs have the better lineup but the Sox have some very good starting pitching. Giving the Cubs a slight advantage for Wrigley Field, I’d say the Cubs should win this Series but probably not in a sweep. Unless, of course, you subscribe to the theory that pitching and defense wins big games.
Next Friday, Saturday and Sunday, these two teams go at it once again, but at U.S. Cellular Field on the South Side. The Cubs will have more trouble in that matchup but could emerge the victor there as well. Who knows?
That’s why they play the game. It’s getting started – gotta go get a tall one.
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